Chapter 65: Apologize to Him!

August 4th.

Dressed in a sharp suit and tie, Zhang Yang sat below the stage.

He was thoroughly enjoying the orchestral performance.

This world lacked the “Fate Symphony” and the “Moonlight Sonata”…

But!

That didn’t hinder the world’s musical culture in the slightest.

The wheels of history were rolling forward in a similar direction.

There were red revolutions, a civil war involving black slavery, medieval empires steeped in Western culture, and the distinct charm of Vienna…

Listening to the sonatas of violins, cellos, and pianos, the history of this world flickered through his mind.

The symphony being performed on stage was titled “The Red War.”

It originated from Russia.

Indulging in a bit of high-brow appreciation, he lost himself in the music, his fingers tapping gently against his leg to the rhythm.

He felt extremely pleasant.

It was as if he had just stepped out of a haze and gained a new lease on life.

He fantasized about the future, immersing himself in the vision.

Buzz buzz.

His phone vibrated.

He wasn’t annoyed by the interruption. Instead, he lowered his head to take a look.

On the screen:

“To Miss Liu Yun of Mumaen Technology:

Yanjing Taiping Law Firm has been commissioned by Mr. Zhang Yang, President of Universe Technology, regarding the recent false statements and malicious defamation you published via social media against Mr. Zhang Yang and Universe Technology. These actions have caused a significant negative impact on our client and his company. We hereby solemnly notify you of the following…”

This was the lawyer’s letter he had sent to Liu Yun.

Ten years from now, lawyer’s letters would likely become little more than scrap paper that no one cared about.

But at this moment, a lawyer’s letter still carried a heavy degree of psychological deterrence.

He smiled.

In truth…

While he didn’t necessarily believe in an eye for an eye for every minor slight, he was never the type to return malice with kindness.

The reason he had chosen to endure, allowing everyone to smear him and hire internet trolls to defame him, was because he had lacked influence back then.

Even if he had issued a lawyer’s letter then, it would have been treated as a joke.

But now…

He wouldn’t let a single one of them off!

More importantly, he wanted to strike one decisive blow to preempt a hundred future attacks!

Li Minghao, the former deputy manager of Dadi Technology, received a lawyer’s letter.

Upon receiving it…

He felt as if he had suddenly been plunged into an ice cellar.

He stared at the words on the document.

“The following statements were previously made: During the job fair: 1. People like Zhang Yang are mentally unstable, probably even intellectually disabled…”

“2. Look at these people; pitiable people always have something hateful about them. They don’t deserve any sympathy.”

“3. On social media: I said a long time ago that Zhang Yang is mentally unstable. A person like that is just low-class trash. It’s only natural he’d come up with something weird. It’s good he was banned…”

“…”

“…”

He was stunned.

How did Zhang Yang know what he had said privately at the job fair?

Was this man a human or a ghost?

And!

Setting aside what was said at the job fair…

Just look at the social media comments.

He had only posted on Tieba once. The next day, he felt it was inappropriate and went back to delete it. How did they manage to dig that up too?

So many people were cursing you!

Why are you singling me out with a lawyer’s letter?

Li Minghao began to panic.

Today was his very first day at Shengteng Network!

To receive something like this on his first day, and…

Li Minghao opened his computer and discovered that Zhang Yang hadn’t just posted the lawyer’s letter in the news section of the official website; he had also posted it across all the major Tieba forums!

No wonder he felt everyone looking at him strangely this morning.

Thinking about it now…

Sitting in his office, his face turned deathly pale. Every word on that lawyer’s letter felt like a hammer blow striking his body.

However…

After a moment of self-adjustment, he calmed down slightly.

A lawyer’s letter had no substantive legal effect. In a sense, it served primarily as a warning.

But…

As he thought of this, his expression shifted again.

Zhang Yang could ruin his reputation!

Seeing the crowds on Tieba and across the internet starting to denounce him and demanding an apology, he suddenly felt a stifling tightness in his chest.

Knock, knock.

“Manager Li.”

“President Wu?”

“Manager Li, although it’s not quite appropriate to tell you this so early in the morning, I hope you can make a statement. Well, this position in the Human Resources department might not be suitable for you. Why don’t you consider another role…”

“Can I still work at Shengteng?” He saw the vice president of the department looking at him with a troubled expression and understood immediately.

“Apologize first and try to get forgiveness from Zhang Yang’s side. This kind of matter can be big or small depending on how it’s handled…” President Wu didn’t answer him directly, speaking with a calm tone instead.

“…”

After President Wu left, Li Minghao stared blankly as more and more people online began to condemn him.

His psychological defenses crumbled.

He felt a crushing sense of oppression.

In this moment…

He lowered his head.

Half a month ago, the situation Zhang Yang faced… was it just like this?

For some reason, that thought surfaced in his mind.

Zhang Yang remained immersed in the music, enjoying the spiritual nourishment.

His phone vibrated.

He saw a multimedia message from Song Qingqing.

He saw that Li Minghao was the first to apologize.

His eyes narrowed into a smile.

He recalled the various doubts, the endless verbal abuse, and the injustices he had faced over the past half month…

At this moment, it all seemed to vanish like smoke.

He had maintained a smile at all times, showing his composure to everyone, but that didn’t mean he hadn’t taken it to heart.

Unless one was a saint, no one truly enjoyed being smeared and cursed by the masses.

Lianzhong Technology also received a lawyer’s letter.

The letter was a formal declaration warning the company to stop employing internet trolls to continue infringing upon Zhang Yang’s personal reputation.

Chen Kun, the head of marketing, slammed his hand against the desk in a fit of rage.

He never expected a guy like Zhang Yang to take something like this so seriously.

Not only had Zhang Yang called the police, but he had actually used IP addresses to hunt down the leader of the internet trolls!

The troll leader had never seen anything like this before.

In the past, he had spent his time flaming people online, even hurling insults at their ancestors eighteen generations back¹, but he had never faced consequences like these.

Now…

He had been hauled straight to the police station, slapped with a lawyer’s letter, and subjected to a grueling legal lecture from an attorney!

He was scared witless!

He was just an ordinary guy trying to stir up trouble for a bit of pocket change.

Under that kind of pressure…

He confessed everything!

Once they had him, they followed the trail of breadcrumbs…

And the whole story came out!

Some netizen even leaked all the transfer records belonging to the troll leader!

Although the transfers didn’t come directly from Lianzhong Technology or any specific employee at the company, this was the kind of mess where mud sticks regardless.

As Chen Kun watched the chaotic wave of accusations flooding the internet, he felt as if he had kicked a hornet’s nest. His head throbbed with the mounting pressure…

Lianzhong Technology was a major corporation!

They dominated a massive slice of the Huaxia computer market!

Their competitors were already green with envy; seeing this opening, how could they possibly pass up a chance to kick them while they were down?

Reporters were already flocking to the scene after catching wind of the scandal!

Chen Kun hurriedly contacted the public relations department and called an emergency meeting.

This was the golden window for new computer sales. They couldn’t let this public outcry tank their numbers!

Over an hour later…

When the meeting finally concluded…

Chen Kun let out a long breath as he walked out of the office.

His expression was cold and dark.

………………………………

The concert ended amidst a thunderous round of applause.

Zhang Yang nodded in appreciation.

It had been a truly high-caliber performance.

The young French cellist, Alice, had played beautifully. Watching her sway with the rhythm of the music, Zhang Yang felt it was a feast for both the ears and the eyes.

After leaving the venue…

Zhang Yang looked up at the star-studded sky, thinking it looked exceptionally brilliant tonight.

He pulled out his phone. Song Qingqing had sent over a private apology from the troll leader. The insults and abuse directed at him online had already begun to dwindle.

However…

He hadn’t received an apology from Lianzhong Technology, nor from Liu Yun’s side.

Instead, he saw…

“Shocking! On the Eve of Album Release, Little Heavenly King Zhou Yang’s Current Girlfriend Exposed; Previously Played Games with a Burly Black Man!”

“Hong Kong and Taiwan Superstar Chen Arong Comes Out! He Prefers Macho Men!”

“Taiwanese Idol Zhang So-and-So Caught in Massive Drug Bust!”

“…”

Under the starlit night.

Zhang Yang watched as the entertainment industry seemed to undergo a massive earthquake, with one explosive scandal after another suddenly hitting the headlines.

In an instant…

Netizens across every Tieba forum were buzzing about these chaotic stories.

They were gorging themselves on the drama.

The rumors were wild and varied.

No one was talking about the lawyer’s letters anymore.

Zhang Yang popped a piece of gum and started chewing.

He shrugged.

“The power of capital is practically invincible.”

Just as Zhang Yang was getting into his car to head back to the office, his phone rang. It was Zhou Yang.

“What is wrong with these entertainment reporters!”

“President Zhang! I’m sending out a lawyer’s letter too. These people are absolutely lawless! FUCK!”

“Look at this, what ‘playing games with a burly black man’? I don’t even have a girlfriend…”

“…”

The usually well-mannered Zhou Yang was swearing up a storm over the phone.

For a moment, Zhang Yang didn’t even know how to comfort the guy.

Of course, he realized that this matter would likely end here. Getting an apology from Lianzhong Technology or Mumaen Technology was basically impossible now.

It was a bit of a shame.

But…

We’ll see.

When he didn’t have a single card in his hand, they still couldn’t kill him.

Now, he was holding two bombs²!

At the very least…

The explosion would be satisfying.

Zhang Yang suddenly found himself looking forward to tomorrow—to the broadcast of the television program Today and the official release of the album Common Jasmine Orange!

(End of Chapter)

Translator’s Notes