Chapter 597: I Sincerely Apologize to Everyone

For Guo Qifeng, he relied on his persona to make money.

In the eyes of his fans, he was very wealthy and couldn't care less about the small amount of money from advertisements, so he had no reason to accept them.

Is there a problem with this logic? It seems there isn't, but then again, people are different.

Some rich people might not take it seriously, but if you say an influencer who maintains high-intensity updates year-round and flies all over the country to recommend restaurants doesn't care about "that little bit of money," then forget it.

However, Guo Qifeng was able to reach where he is today naturally by cultivating a group of die-hard fans; whenever there was questioning, he didn't need to say anything, as the die-hard fans would already jump out to mock the critics.

But this time the situation was a bit serious; he had just recommended a restaurant, and even specifically explained it twice, yet it ended up crashing and burning.

"We must stabilize the persona now; we absolutely cannot expose the fact that there is a contract between us and the other party. This must absolutely not be exposed!" the agent said from the side with a very serious face.

"As for the crash, everyone has times when they crash. We can say it like this: there were no problems at all when we went to eat there initially. As for it being investigated now, we had no way of knowing that. It's impossible to have to guarantee every aspect of quality just by visiting a shop!"

"So, let Qifeng explain these circumstances first, saying he was indeed unaware, and then apologize immediately. The attitude must be sincere!"

"You have to project that feeling of, 'Although I didn't do anything wrong, now that there is a problem, I absolutely must apologize.' You must have this feeling, making the fans feel that you are too pitiful and too honest. Add some Internet Water Army, and like this, they will spontaneously protect you!"

Guo Qifeng nodded and said: "This method is good, and for the time being, it's the only way. Sigh, I don't know what exactly that restaurant was investigated for..."

Everything was unclear, so all Guo Qifeng could do now was apologize first; in any case, he had to occupy the high ground of public opinion first.

Anyway, as long as you apologize, you are not bad in the eyes of the fans, and they might even think you are someone who takes responsibility and is a real man!

Thus, amidst the heated discussions online, Guo Qifeng began filming a video again.

It had to be the same as before; he had to appear very exhausted and tired. Of course, things like Internet Violence and depression all had to be added in.

The situation suddenly turning like this was truly a bit unsettling for a die-hard fan like Chen Xutong.

She refreshed the news online over and over again, wanting to find a response from Xiao Guo, but there was none.

It was just that as she scrolled, she discovered that some comments that had previously disappeared, such as talk about Xiao Guo taking money to visit shops, had appeared once again.

"I beg you all, if you don't understand, don't talk nonsense, okay? Xiao Guo might not have paid attention, so he crashed, but Xiao Guo is a second-generation rich kid himself, okay? He doesn't care about that little bit of money at all. Who are you insulting!"

"How much money can you get from filming a shop-visiting video? Xiao Guo's parents are both extremely rich. Look at how much money he spends every time he does a food broadcast; relying on filming videos to make money, what are you thinking!"

"Besides, that shop wasn't only visited by Xiao Guo; many influencers have been there, okay!"

After fiercely retorting online, Chen Xutong felt slightly better.

But this wasn't a solution either; what exactly was going on with Xiao Guo?

After refreshing several times, Chen Xutong suddenly became excited; Xiao Guo had updated his video!

She hurriedly clicked in to watch; the title of this new video was: Once again, Internet Violence, I already want to quit the internet.

Huh? What's going on? Is Xiao Guo going to quit the internet?

Clicking on the video, what appeared was still Xiao Guo's handsome face. Don't be surprised; to attract so many fans, his looks definitely had to be passable.

Only, this face was now extremely exhausted, even making people feel a bit dejected.

"My fan friends, hello. I believe everyone has seen the post forwarded by A Yi. To be honest, I really didn't expect that Shaoxi Restaurant would actually be investigated."

"I only heard that Shaoxi Restaurant had first-class value for money, so I thought about making a video to show everyone exactly how the value for money was. I really just wanted to help everyone!"

"I haven't been to the restaurant since the last live stream, but I use the lives of my whole family to guarantee that when I went there, there was absolutely, absolutely no problem. I don't know anything about what happened later."

"I am truly apologizing sincerely to everyone now. Everyone can come and scold me. Really, although I didn't know the situation, I did indeed do something wrong. Wrong is wrong; I won't make any more excuses."

"But now, I have been subjected to Internet Violence once again, and the Internet Violence is even more ferocious than last time. Today I went to the hospital for a check-up; I am already a bit depressed now..."

"My original intention for making shop-visiting videos was just because I like gourmet food, thinking I could use my own efforts to find some restaurants with very high value for money for everyone, so that everyone wouldn't get scammed."

"But now, the repeated Internet Violence has made me unable to take it anymore. I really don't lack the money from filming videos; I just wanted to provide convenience for my fan friends. Now, I am tired, and I want to seriously consider whether I should quit the internet..."

Having finished watching the video just like that, Chen Xutong felt her heart was about to break.

Immediately, she went straight to the comment section and said: "I'm really puzzled, why are there so many trolls in this world? Can you not die if you don't troll?"

"Forcing an Anchor to the point of swearing a poisonous oath on his whole family, forcing him to the point of quitting the internet, are you satisfied? Are you happy?"

"It clearly wasn't his problem, and he has already apologized so sincerely, what else do you want? There were so many other influencers!"

Chen Xutong's reaction basically represented the reaction of the die-hard fans, but rather than saying they were brain-dead, it's better to say that some people were already deceiving themselves.

But this was exactly what Guo Qifeng wanted to see. After seeing such comments, Guo Qifeng and his team were immediately relieved.

As long as the fans spontaneously supported him, then there was no problem.

Xiao Guo had already apologized, so it was impossible for other influencers to hold out. Except for a few who were playing dead, basically all the influencers who had visited the shop began to apologize.

Anyway, it's an internet rule: apologize to be exempt from responsibility.

A Yi hadn't had any movement for a long time, but a sudden forwarded post once again caused a wave, making old viewers like Yuan Jie feel very excited.

Just as they said, how could someone like A Yi possibly give up? It's just that they didn't expect that this time it was the situation investigated by the Market Supervision Department.

As for those influencers who were apologizing and acting depressed, the old viewers couldn't even be bothered to speak.

Anyway, regardless of what was said, such an apology seemed to have worked!

In the words of some people, actually, shop-visiting Anchors have no choice either. They aren't law enforcement departments; they leave after visiting the shop, and it's impossible to keep an eye on the restaurant's food safety at all times.

Coupled with the efforts of the Internet Water Army, another kind of situation actually formed online!

It seemed like everyone was there condemning the trolls, all saying that Internet Violence was wrong, but one couldn't see who the people committing the Internet Violence were...

Anyway, everyone was on the moral high ground now, so they could just say whatever they wanted.

Inside Tengda Company, Zhou Yi played with his phone, and looking at the situation online, he also shook his head.

These people have really ruined the concepts of Internet Violence and depression.

Especially the latter; it is actually very terrifying, as it is a disease after all, a disease that requires medication to treat, but as a result, look at what it has become now.

The apology was fast, but this kind of apology had no meaning at all, because in the apology, he said that this had nothing to do with him...

If he refuses to admit there is a problem, then what is the point of this apology!

This is also a common tactic used by many influencers or celebrities nowadays.

Yes, they apologize quickly and sincerely, but if you look closely, you will find that it's not an apology at all; it's entirely a statement saying they have no responsibility.

This way, not only do they gain a good reputation, but they will also be pitied by fans, thinking, "Look at my brother, always being bullied..."

But it doesn't matter; there is something even more satisfying waiting ahead.

It will still take two days for the Market Supervision Department to produce investigation results, so there is no rush; Zhou Yi plans to go to Fang Dazhuang's law firm later to inform him of the situation.

The main event, of course, is the System Task; with so many people in the Company working together for a week now, the information collected is extremely complex.

But it doesn't matter; the Company has now hired professional statistical experts to classify and organize it, just to see exactly who did the cursing, how many people there are, and what their account names are.

And whether their behavior has already constituted a crime!

Yes, through this investigation, Zhou Yi also discovered that while people were indeed cursing, these people were pitifully few compared to all the comments.

Yet the popularity was very high; whether it was likes or comments, everything was exceptionally high!

This is also the evidence brought out by those fans, evidence that their own idol was subjected to Internet Violence!

Look at how high the popularity of these curses is; how could they not have been subjected to Internet Violence!

And all Zhou Yi has to do is say a word and help the other party file a Lawsuit; as long as there is a Letter of Entrustment, he will cover all other various expenses himself.

Of course, if a Criminal Private Prosecution is really initiated with the thought of forcing something out, that would be a bit difficult.

After all, a Criminal Private Prosecution can be settled through Mediation, and as long as the Mediation is successful, the case can be withdrawn.

Therefore, initiating a Private Prosecution is just a means; what needs to be done is to find the connections behind these accounts.

Still the same saying: as long as you are willing to put in the effort and spend the money, many things can be uncovered.

It will still take a few days for the Company to produce results, so Zhou Yi went directly to Fang Dazhuang's law firm.

Half an hour later, inside the law firm's office, Fang Dazhuang looked at Zhou Yi in front of him with a look of surprise and said, "Really? Are you sure the other party actually did that?"

"Of course I'm sure. Passing off inferior goods as superior, using those cheap things to replace expensive ones, using duck liver and then claiming it's imported goose liver..."

"But Fang Dazhuang, what's the use of knowing this? The Market Supervision Department has already started an investigation; isn't that just a matter of a slightly larger fine? Or could this matter be a Criminal Case?"

Upon hearing this, Fang Dazhuang glanced at him and said, "If it were just a fine, I wouldn't even be talking to you. Didn't you already know before that there is a crime called False Advertising Crime!"

"What's wrong? Forgot so soon?"

Zhou Yi hurriedly said, "Of course I remember. Advertisers, advertising operators, and advertising publishers—the subjects can only be these three types."

"Then the Up Master who did the shop review should... wait, Fang Dazhuang, are you saying that their behavior also counts as advertising?"

Fang Dazhuang chuckled, "Do you think they didn't take money?"

"How could that be possible? Everyone is just trying to make a living on the internet; who doesn't know who? How could they not take money."

"Then that's it. If they took money and promoted it for someone else, that is already a form of advertising behavior. You tell me, in such a situation, if False Propaganda occurs, what would the situation be?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yi stood up abruptly: "That's right, Fang Dazhuang, it seems that is indeed the case. That shop is practically selling dog meat while hanging up a sheep's head; they said everything was good stuff, but used cheap things. If we go to the police, they will definitely be investigated!"

"And those internet celebrities, this... if this is really investigated, it seems like another large group of people will have to go inside!"

Fang Dazhuang waved his hand and said, "Don't get excited yet. That's still a long way off. You don't remember, do you? The composition of the False Advertising Crime specifically states that it must be intentional!"

"So the problem here is whether those internet celebrities had the intent of False Propaganda when they were conducting the shop review promotion!"

This is a very important point, isn't it? Whether it is intentional or not, within this charge, is the boundary between crime and non-crime.

Zhou Yi began to hesitate upon hearing this; how is one supposed to figure this out?

This kind of subjective matter cannot be proven through direct evidence.

"Don't know again, right? I told you before: proving whether it is intentional in terms of subjective aspect is actually very simple. It is to prove whether they knew about the existence of this kind of fraud in the restaurant when they were promoting it!"

"If they knew, then it is intentional; it's that simple!"

Zhou Yi suddenly saw the light upon hearing this; thinking about it this way, it seems much easier.

"But Fang Dazhuang, we are just ordinary people, not the Public Security Bureau; we have no way to go and ask them. This doesn't seem easy to prove either..."

"How about we just call the police and let the police investigate? There will definitely be no problem."

Fang Dazhuang took a deep breath and finally said, "Of course you can call the police directly, but that is not my style."

"Speaking of which, your memory isn't as good as it used to be since you got married. You forgot that the internet celebrity named Xiao Guo was livestreaming for a long time that day!"

"Come, come, come, look here. I had nothing to do earlier, so I analyzed the other party's livestream videos one by one. Look here, yes, this shot; they are eating goose liver, right!"

Zhou Yi leaned over to look, and it really was. This shot was actually not long in the entire livestream; they filmed it a little and then immediately started eating.

"Because you haven't been exposed to things in this area, you can't tell now, but I can tell you very clearly: if you slow this down many times and watch it slowly, you will find that the so-called goose liver they are eating is actually duck liver!"

"Now you understand, right? Even when this Anchor was livestreaming, what they were eating wasn't goose liver! Then tell me, were they aware of it when they were promoting it earlier?"

Zhou Yi cupped his hands: "Fang Dazhuang, you win."

Watching someone else's eating video slowed down countless times—even if he were a pervert, he would still think Fang Dazhuang is quite a pervert...

"You go do your thing; I'll organize the evidence. My recent research finally has a real-life example: as long as money was taken, this should be considered an advertisement!"

I drank with my boss today and got home at ten, so there is only one chapter. Thanks to Wenchidage, Fenglingzhiguang, Wo Fuze Han 666, Shuyou 2021, Shipilong, You Yige Xinshou, Mengxinzai, Wen Chi, Feimaowuyu, Shuyou 2022, and jian for the tips, thank you.