Chapter 123: The "Morning Star" Against the Media (Part II)

Ma Xiaoqian watched Lin Qihua with concern, her heart filled with pity and a burning indignation toward Tang Zhijie and his cohorts. It was Lin Qihua who had stopped Tang Zhijie from harassing a female artist; it was Tang Zhijie who had been arrogant and dismissive after drinking. Why, then, had the narrative flipped, with the blame being dumped on Lin Qihua? Why would the media act this way? Could the involvement of a superstar really be enough to sell out one's conscience and slander a talented, upright artist in such a manner?

"Let us handle this. Leave the fans to us," Chang Yan said, looking at Lin Qihua with eyes full of fury. "The official studio shouldn't step in; it’s too conspicuous and would easily invite further attacks. We’ll handle these media outlets and fans in the name of 'The Morning Star.' Even if our influence is limited, we must make our voices heard."

"Agreed," He Li nodded. "That is the only way."

"Alright, let's get to work." Chang Yan swung her fist firmly and called out to her team, "In this time of crisis, it is when 'The Morning Star' shines brightest. Supporting our idol is our bounden duty."

"Right!" He Yanlin, Chen Yu, and the others shouted in unison, taking their seats at their workstations, ready for battle.

"First, issue a message to the fans. 'The Morning Star' is their home, and we must settle their hearts as quickly as possible. Post it everywhere—on social media platforms, forums, group chats, and so on. Tell the regional managers to immediately reassure the fans under their charge. The goal is to keep everyone calm. Tell them not to make blind judgments, that we don't need them to stand up and defend him yet, but that we need them to wait patiently for the truth to emerge." He Yanlin took command, issuing instructions rapidly.

"Got it." Behind her thick glasses, Li Zixuan’s eyes gleamed with a cold light. With pursed lips, she typed rapidly on her console, and soon, a message appeared on the screen.

"Good, send it out." He Yanlin nodded after reviewing it, signaling everyone to post it across all channels.

Soon, the official "The Morning Star" social media accounts, forums, and group chats posted an announcement: "Dear brothers and sisters, the accusations made by Mr. Tang Zhijie against our idol are baseless. There are too many inconsistencies here, and the truth has yet to be determined. Please remain calm; do not fall into someone else's trap and lose your composure. Do you remember 'Little Luck'? Do you remember 'Existence'? Do you remember 'Back to the Past'? Do you remember 'Blue and White Porcelain'? Do you remember 'The You of the Past'? Our idol has brought us so much emotion. Think about it: could a person of low moral character write such moving songs? Please analyze the situation calmly and evaluate this incident objectively. We hope that, at the very least, you won't act impulsively. Let's observe first and see what the truth behind this incident really is. If it turns out as the media claims and our idol’s character is indeed flawed, it won't be too late to leave then. We hope you will trust him and give him some time; time will prove everything."

This announcement was like timely rain, quickly stabilizing the anxious hearts of the fans. On social media platforms, the decline in follower counts was successfully halted.

Across various platforms, fans began to speak out, expressing their support for their idol. Indeed, the truth had not been revealed, and it was reckless to brand their idol a villain based solely on Tang Zhijie’s words and the media's wild speculation. As the announcement stated, a calm look revealed many suspicious points. Most importantly, there was no conclusive evidence—no video, and no victim stepping forward. How could they prove Lin Qihua had done these things?

Regarding the comments from Tang Zhijie and the media, the fans replied with a single sentiment: "When you are determined to condemn someone, you will always find a pretext."

"Good, we’ve stabilized things for now. Now, let’s move to the second step: targeting the media and the other parties involved," He Yanlin said, calm and collected. "First, Qingsong Entertainment. We call on them to step forward and clarify the facts. As the organizers of the banquet, they have an obligation to explain the sequence of events clearly instead of slandering an artist."

"Done," Li Zixuan nodded, polished He Yanlin's words, and sent them out.

"Second, Xiangmei Hotel." He Yanlin’s face was filled with anger. "As a five-star hotel that has hosted countless similar events, their security and surveillance should be impeccable. The truth of this matter lies in the footage. Do they really think they can wash their hands of this by saying there is no recording or that it was a blind spot? This is extremely irresponsible. We demand that Xiangmei Hotel provide the complete surveillance footage so everyone can see the truth."

"No problem." Li Zixuan quickly followed He Yanlin’s instructions, tagging Xiangmei Hotel and posting the statement, while other "The Morning Star" staff relayed the content to various platforms.

"Third, target Hongdou Entertainment News; they are the most aggressive," He Yanlin said, her expression cold. "Since his debut, Lin Qihua has held himself to the strict standards of a singer and has never done anything to damage his professional ethics. Everything he has achieved is through his own hard work. We thank Galaxy Entertainment for their support and will continue to work hard to create better works for his listeners and fans. Before an entertainment media outlet publicly criticizes an artist, please provide solid evidence. Do not use those three photos as proof. The pictures only show that Qihua had contact with that girl and a confrontation with Tang Zhijie. What was said? What was done? Is there concrete evidence? If you can't provide it, please don't compromise a media outlet's most basic principle: respect the facts. Speak with facts, don't chase shadows."

"Fourth, address the media criticizing Qihua for being an alcoholic and causing trouble: tell them Lin Qihua does not drink—not a drop. It is precisely because of this that he can sing the heavenly high notes of 'Existence' and the Jiangnan-style melodies of 'Blue and White Porcelain.' If they still think otherwise, provide the photos you’ve taken of Lin Qihua drinking, whether in a bar or anywhere else. Present the evidence. If you have it, we’ll admit it. If not, please have some self-respect."

"Fifth, tag Tang Zhijie directly," He Yanlin continued. "We respect you as a senior and a top-tier artist, but we do not understand why you would fabricate such an incident to slander our artist. If there is something about our artist that you find displeasing, you can tell us directly, and we will correct it. But we refuse to accept your baseless slander. Today, you may point at a deer and call it a horse, but time will eventually prove everything. The truth will not be hidden forever. When the truth is laid bare before the world, have you thought about the consequences? Think carefully."

"Understood." Li Zixuan’s fingers flew, swiftly polishing He Yanlin’s words into a final draft, which was then published on "The Morning Star" platforms.

"Finally, take a screenshot of the stills from the previous 'Entertainment Interview Show' and post it. Tell everyone that everyone appreciates beauty; Lin Qihua is no saint. Naturally, he would admire a beautiful girl, but he does not need to use such tactics. Look at the evidence: look at his hands. If he were a lecher, how could he maintain such gentlemanly behavior in front of the national goddess Gu Yuhan, who is as beautiful as a fairy? He would have surely reached out with wandering hands. Look at Gu Yuhan’s expression—beyond a slight shyness, is there any sign of anger? If Lin Qihua had acted inappropriately behind the scenes or on stage, why would the goddess have chosen him as her partner? Ask yourselves: which girl at the event could be as beautiful as our national goddess? Could have as much class? Why would Lin Qihua act inappropriately toward her in such a setting? Again, if you have proof, we welcome you to release real, clear, and complete videos so the whole country can see the truth."

Seven consecutive announcements and messages, each with a clear target, focused not on direct denial, but on exposing the biggest loophole in the claims made by the media and Tang Zhijie: the lack of evidence. He Yanlin knew clearly that Lin Qihua did not drink, so no one could possibly have captured him doing so—she could guarantee that. As for the incident at the Xiangmei Hotel, she welcomed them to release images, knowing that since Tang Zhijie could only produce those three photos, they had no stronger evidence. By directly refuting their accusations, the strikes were precise and lethal.

For a moment, public opinion was stunned. The individuals and entities named were thrown into disarray, unsure of how to respond.

If these statements had come from Lin Qihua’s own platform, they could have been attacked as mere sophistry. But coming from the official fan platform, the goal was not to defend himself, but to stabilize the fans. As long as the fans remained calm, Galaxy Entertainment had nothing to fear.

The shift in perspective and stance allowed "The Morning Star" to act as a protective umbrella, perfectly shielding Lin Qihua. Countless loyal fans realized what was happening and quickly organized, gathering to provide strong support. At this moment, the organizational structure of "The Morning Star" proved its immense value. The regional fan group managers were all hardcore fans of Lin Qihua, and they held some level of influence in their respective areas, successfully calming the fans under their call. The fact that the evidence was so flimsy also made it impossible for fans to believe their idol would do such things.

"We can rest easy now," He Li said with a relieved smile as she watched the composed He Yanlin, speaking to Yu Fengqin and the others. "At least for tonight, there won't be any more trouble."

"Yes, it hasn't been easy," Yu Fengqin sighed with relief. "But tomorrow and the day after are the biggest tests, because Qihua has his competition coming up."

"It’s a long road ahead, and they won't just give up," He Li sighed. "But there’s no choice; we’ll take it as it comes. At least we aren't defenseless. As for Qihua’s competition, we’ve done all we can, and now we leave the rest to fate."

"That is all we can do."

That night, "The Morning Star" emerged, shining brilliantly for all to see.