Tonight is destined to be a sleepless night.
Since the video of Yan Shenyu's premarital "cheating" was exposed in the early hours of last night, the internet has been filled with condemnation.
As a beauty blogger specializing in traditional Chinese style, Yan Shenyu does have a certain fanbase. These short videos are obviously fake; how could young girls allow their favorite person to be slandered like this? They even went online overnight to debate Yan Shenyu's situation.
However, their numbers were too small, and the voices of fans clarifying the situation were drowned out by trolls and online trolls. In addition, various revelations were presented in a detailed and convincing manner, and eventually, even bystanders were influenced and began to believe that he might really have been unable to resist the temptation and cheated.
Flies don't land on eggs without cracks. If he had nothing wrong with his actions, how could such a video exist?
In Yan Shenyu's Weibo fan group, thousands of chat messages were flooded after the video was released, with fans known as "Xiaoyan" actively responding on various platforms. However, as the opposing side's online trolls joined the fray, the voices of resistance grew increasingly faint.
By the following evening, the lively fan group began to quiet down, with only a few veteran die-hard fans still holding on.
How could this be? This video is obviously fake, yet so many people still believe it.
Some people said it was fake, but it was all suppressed by online trolls.
"So what if we have a lot of people? They're just taking advantage of the fact that we didn't hire any online trolls, huh? Why don't we hire some too?" said a person with the ID "Yan Shenyu's Rain".
There was a brief moment of silence in the group chat, and then someone answered her.
【It's not impossible, but the key issue is that we don't have much money. We're all just ordinary office workers, and Xiaoyu, you're just a college student.】
How much does it cost to hire an online troll army? Shall we chip in and get one done?
I'm not entirely sure, but it's probably between several hundred thousand and a million?
After these words, the group fell silent again. A moment later, various messages began to pop up.
I'm going to work overtime now.
I've written my paper, and it's due tomorrow.
I'm going to sleep now; I have to get up early for work tomorrow.
[Xiaoyu, what about you? Are you going to keep waiting?]
Anyway, I don't have class tomorrow morning, so I can come in rotation with different numbers. And maybe Xiao Yan will respond? Then we won't be in such a passive position.
Okay, then take care of yourself.
The group members said goodbye and logged off, but before they could log out, a link suddenly appeared in the group.
[Holy crap, you guys need to see this! Someone filmed this at a bar, and it looks like Xiao Yan apologized to Xie Xiaoling in person! The video is so detailed, it scared me so much I couldn't even sleep!]
Some people didn't believe it and retorted, "No way, how could that be? Xiao Yan never did anything like that. You must have mistaken her for someone else."
"Yan Shenyu's Rain" opened the video. The video was taken in a bar, the lighting was dim, and the distance was far, so it was not very clear. An ordinary person might not be able to recognize him at first glance, but as a die-hard fan of Yan Shenyu, "Yan Shenyu's Rain" confirmed from the moment he appeared that the long-haired man in the video was Yan Shenyu.
He sat opposite a petite man, keeping his head down the entire time and not uttering a word, while the man opposite him was arrogant and domineering, as if he were standing on a moral high ground.
Upon closer inspection, it really is no different from an in-person apology.
After realizing this, everyone in the group fell silent. After a long while, someone sent a message uncertainly.
In other words, is it possible... that this video is real...?
Although I desperately want to believe this isn't true, it does seem...
[But why is he apologizing? He clearly didn't do those things, did he? Xie Xiaoling framed him.]
At this point, everyone in the group fell silent, a thought they didn't want to admit surfaced in their minds.
They refused to believe that the person they supported was so morally despicable. If Xie Xiaoling's previous accusations were true, and if Yan Shenyu really did those things—stealing other people's boyfriends, being a mistress, having premarital affairs, spreading rumors and framing others—then it would mean that their affection and their righteous indignation would all become meaningless.
In the silence, "Yan Shenyu's Rain" sent a message.
[Impossible, I believe he's not that kind of person. The video only shows images, no sound, and no context; you can't conclude it's an apology based solely on the claims of a marketing account.]
Xiaoyu spoke with great conviction, but the others did not share her strong belief. They exchanged a few awkward words and then logged off.
Xiaoyu was left alone in front of the computer, switching between different accounts and clarifying things for her idol one message after another.
But her clarification seemed so weak that it was quickly drowned in the flood of information, without making a ripple.
Until the early hours of the morning, local police suddenly issued a police report.
This afternoon, the city's Public Security Bureau received a tip from a concerned citizen that the xxx bar was involved in the illegal sale of psychedelic drugs. At 11 PM tonight, during the investigation, police discovered that Xie had purchased the drugs and added them to the victim's drink. Furthermore, suspects Xiao and Li were apprehended at the scene.
The victim has been taken to the hospital and is out of danger. Police have launched an investigation, and further details are being developed.
Police remind the public that the production, distribution, sale, and purchase of hallucinogenic drugs are all illegal and criminal activities, and will be severely punished according to law. If any citizens witness such activities, please report them to the police. Furthermore, citizens should be vigilant about the placement of foreign objects while out and about, and actively protect their personal safety.
At first, people simply thought it was just a news story. Then someone remembered that the rumored apology Yan Shenyu made to Xie Xiaoling took place in this very bar.
Could it be that Xie is Xie Xiaoling? Xiao is Xiao Zhenliang? And the victim who was protected and whose name wasn't mentioned is Yan Shenyu?
So that means... Xie Xiaoling is in jail?!
The online trolls still trying to criticize Yan Shenyu: ?
And unsuspecting netizens: ??
Yan Shenyu's fan group instantly erupted in excitement. Those who were sleeping stopped sleeping, and those who were working overtime stopped working overtime. The fans who were just dejected turned over in an instant and joined the battle overnight.
[Hooray! Xie Shiba is in jail!!]
[Hilarious! There are even online trolls criticizing Yan Shenyu. Do they expect their masters in prison to pay them?]
This is something I didn't expect; how did it suddenly turn from a soap opera into a crime drama?
Xie Xiaoling's fans refused to believe this fact, feeling that the "smiling faces" were smearing their idol, and launched a strong counterattack.
While fans of both sides were engaged in a heated debate, the general public remained neutral, focusing instead on the details of the official report.
Does it say that Xie drugged the victim?
So Xie Xiaoling wanted to force herself on Yan Shenyu?!
And they even let Xiao Zhenliang watch from the side?
Holy crap?! Seriously?! Is this some kind of insane madness?!
But what about that accomplice, Li?
The amount of information in the announcement was truly overwhelming, leaving onlookers bewildered. Those who clicked in from the trending topics were even more confused: ex-partner, elopement, infidelity, mistress, date rape drugs—what did all this have to do with each other?
Before we could even finish digesting the news from this side, the Diaoyutai Hotel issued a statement.
As a members-only high-end hotel in Beijing, Diaoyutai's official Weibo account is extremely aloof, rarely opening for business even once every ten days or half a month. Even when it posts on Weibo, it's just some announcements, like an old-fashioned person from 500 years ago.
But today, the official Weibo account, which is usually so high and mighty, has surprisingly descended to earth and participated in the trending topics that netizens are talking about.
The Diaoyutai State Guesthouse issued a statement saying: "Recently, an investigation revealed that a manager surnamed Li at the Diaoyutai Hotel is suspected of purchasing and distributing illegal materials, engaging in serious illegal activities. Furthermore, he is also suspected of photographing guests' private moments and maliciously compiling and uploading the images to websites. This behavior is extremely egregious and despicable. Upon discovery, the Diaoyutai Hotel immediately dismissed him and handed the case over to the police."
The fishing platform has always been committed to protecting guest privacy and will further strengthen employee training and management to resolutely prevent such incidents from happening again.
Netizens: ? ?
[Wait, isn't that the fishing platform? Isn't that the hotel where Yan Shenyu held his wedding?]
So what's the deal with this Manager Li? Did he also drug someone?
[I was saying, isn't it possible... that he was the one who drugged Yan Shenyu in the first place? And then recorded the video of Yan Shenyu taking the medicine and posted it online to frame him for premarital infidelity.]
[That's terrifying, this is outrageous!]
[Can you please stop making baseless accusations? This is completely fabricated! What does Manager Li's drugging have to do with Xie Xiaoling?]
[+1, I wonder how many online trolls Yan Shenyu hired to do this; they've even resorted to such a low-level whitewashing tactic.]
[Hilarious! Who's trying to whitewash this? Your Xie Shiba is clearly the one with more problems.]
[Don't you know? Xie Xiaoling takes her mother's surname, and her father's surname is Li. The fishing platform was originally one of the Xie family's properties, and that Manager Li only got the job through Xie Xiaoling's connections.]
Even so, you can't say that Xiaoling drugged Yan Shenyu, can you? Where's the evidence? Do you have any evidence?
[Get the evidence from the police; after all, eighteen of your family members have already been in jail!]
[Don't frame me; Xie is not Xiaoling, thank you.]
[@ExtraLargeWhiteRabbitCandy If you didn't go in, then come out and walk around a bit. Don't hide in the back and play dead.]
Xie Xiaoling naturally didn't come out, but his fans still didn't believe he had gone in. The two sides argued fiercely online, but neither could convince the other.
However, before they could reach a conclusion, a well-known European high-end jewelry brand also released an announcement.
Recently, a consumer reported to the brand that a store in Beijing was engaging in price gouging, with the highest bidder winning the product. After investigation, the brand confirmed the allegations and has dismissed the manager involved.
Hereby, the brand promises to all consumers that it never uses a "highest bidder wins" sales method. If you encounter any similar situation in our stores, please report it to the brand immediately. As for Mr. Xie, who spent 8 million yuan on the necklace, we are very grateful for his appreciation. After discussion, we have decided to donate the excess 7 million yuan to a charity.
At first, no one associated this announcement with Xie Xiaoling. Only some netizens mocked her for being foolish and rich, and suspected that she was not thinking straight.
It wasn't until someone dug up Xie Xiaoling's previous necklace bill and compared it with the brand's pictures that they discovered that the necklace, which should have cost only 1 million, actually cost 8 million.
Netizen: ? ?
So Xie Xiaoling was the sucker?
[Hey, how can you call someone a sucker? They should be called a charity ambassador, the little white rabbit.]
[Hilarious, a charity ambassador ending up in jail.]
[I'm seriously laughing out loud! How could anyone do something so idiotic? This necklace isn't a limited edition; even if the store doesn't have it, other stores must have it, right? Is it so hard to ask the store to exchange it for another one?]
He doesn't seem very bright; now I know why he ended up in jail.
[Xie is a common surname, and Xiao is also a common surname. Please don't try to scam me, thank you.]
[+1, spreading rumors and forwarding them more than 500 times can lead to legal action. Please be aware.]
[Oh, the police report is out, and some people still don't believe it? Do they need to see a picture of the other party in jail before they'll give up?]
[@SuperBigWhiteRabbitCandy @SuperBigWhiteRabbitCandy @SuperBigWhiteRabbitCandy Your fans all believe in you, and you'll be out of jail soon.]
[I clicked on the trending topic and I'm totally confused, so what exactly happened?]
Wow, I heard about the runaway bride story before, but I never expected it to develop like this.
[Looking for a class representative! Is there anyone kind enough to explain this?]
What on earth happened?! I'm not going to sleep tonight until I get some gossip about this!!
...
However, no matter how much netizens shouted, no one came forward to clarify.
Xie Xiaoling had already been taken to the police station, and Yan Shenyu, the center of the storm, was still lying in the hospital. When he woke up again, it was already the next morning.