The male supporting character was actually myself.

"They're just bored and have nothing better to do. What decent person has the time to gossip about other people?"

"That makes perfect sense. A decent person sees everything as clean; a person with a heart sees everything as dirty!"

"You just don't pay much attention to gossip. Actually, there are a lot of rumors like this online, but they are usually small-scale and don't cause such a big stir."

"What do people who spread rumors get out of it? Do they think they're the only ones who know how to use the internet? Why don't they just play games and watch dramas instead of making things up about others? If we catch one of these gossipy people, we should chop off their tongues. That way, we'll make an example of them and there will be fewer people spreading rumors in the future."

"Now there are laws in place, and there are even criminal cases. But it seems like they're all related to spreading rumors and endangering public safety; it seems like very few people who make up stories for individuals get caught..."

…………

Hua Zaihong is embroiled in a rumor-mongering scandal, and even official announcements have been ineffective, with many people still gossiping about her behind her back. Especially after Zhang Chengbo's brother went live and portrayed her as a promiscuous woman, some people even messaged her late at night asking how much she charged for a night.

Although the company didn't fire her directly, they found an excuse to transfer her to a different position, which is the kind of job that could be laid off at any time.

There's nothing else to do but suffer in silence, since the company's reassignment based on public opinion isn't illegal.

"Mr. Wei, thank you so much for the free legal aid. I'm so grateful." After thinking for a long time, Hua Zaihong pressed the send button and sent the message to Wei Jiangchen.

She has always been a strong and courageous person who never gives up, and has never backed down no matter how bitter or difficult things are. But now she really can't withstand the storm of public opinion.

Hua Zaihong didn't dare to go out for several days. Many self-media anchors, old men and women who came to watch the excitement gathered at the entrance of the community. Some people even disguised themselves as deliverymen, food deliverymen, and property staff, and would knock on the door from time to time in an attempt to trick her into opening the door so they could get the first-hand fresh news or even an interview.

The thick curtains were drawn to prevent anyone from taking photos, making the once bright and clean room feel dark and stuffy.

She didn't turn on the light; she only felt a little safer curled up in the blankets.

With Wei Jiangchen's lawsuit against group insults as a precedent, no one has dared to send harassing messages casually lately.

But as long as you open the internet, your own photos and daily life are everywhere. What's even more hateful is that Zhang Chengbo's younger brother, Zhang Chengyue, makes all sorts of lies to promote his products. Even after reporting to the police and issuing a lawyer's letter, it's useless. This whole family has already sucked the blood out of our small family, and now they even want to break our bones and drain our marrow!

"If I'm going to die, I'll take someone down with me. Unfortunately, I can't do it myself, so I can only ask Wei Jiangchen to help me finish the last step in this way!" Hua Zaihong was exhausted and had no family or friends to help her. After thinking it over for a long time, she decided to donate all her property to the charity organization set up by Wei Jiangchen, and then left a suicide note.

Death would be a complete liberation, and leaving behind that suicide note would surely make Zhang Chengbo's family pay the price!

"How...did I end up like this..." Transfer successful; message sent successfully; suicide note written. Hua Zaihong, tears streaming down her face, desperately put her phone aside. She really wanted to rush to Zhang Chengbo's hometown and chop the bastard and his rambling old scoundrel into pieces.

But she couldn't do it; she couldn't even leave the gate of her residential compound.

Those streamers who flock together are like a persistent ailment that you can't get rid of. How could you possibly kill your enemy in front of everyone, even while they're streaming?

Ultimately, if they fail to kill the person, they are more likely to end up in jail themselves.

Having lived for over twenty years, she had never bowed down or done anything to dishonor her dignity, no matter how poor or miserable she was. She didn't want to smear her own reputation on her deathbed, turning what was right into wrong.

The money I worked so hard to earn was originally meant to give me a happy little family. Now I'm leaving it to Wei Jiangchen as a commission, asking him to avenge me!

Hua Zaihong wiped away her tears, took a deep breath, picked up the medicine bottle from the bedside table, opened it, poured out a handful of white pills, swallowed them with water, then changed into her favorite clothes, lay on the bed, and waited for the final moment to arrive.

She had seen online the pain of suicide by overdosing on sleeping pills, but now that circumstances didn't allow for a better option, she wasn't afraid of death, so what pain was there to fear?

Moreover, physical pain is completely relieved after it subsides; it is the mental anguish that is suffocating as long as one is alive.

As drowsiness gradually crept in, Hua Zaihong offered no resistance. She closed her eyes, thinking that after so many days of being in a daze, unable to eat or sleep, she could finally get a good night's rest...

"Host, Hua Zaihong committed suicide by overdosing on medication!" The fluffy little cat, with one paw on the door frame and the other holding a cell phone that was almost as big as itself, stood on tiptoe and said smugly, "But don't worry, with my cute and soft little kitten here, how could I just watch her die?"

I changed all her sleeping pills; apart from one normal dose, the rest were health supplements and vitamins, so she could sleep well and wouldn't die.

Jiang Chen breathed a sigh of relief after hearing its drunken ramblings.

The most terrifying aspect of cyberbullying is that the pervasive messages can cause mental breakdowns. As a result, many people who experience cyberbullying suffer from mild depression and require long-term medication; those who suffer severe cyberbullying, like the original poster and Hua Zaihong, cannot withstand it and choose suicide as a way out.

He was worried that the other party, having misplaced their trust and seen Zhang Chengbo's true colors, would be deeply hurt and, unable to bear the cyberbullying, might commit suicide. That's why he had Xiaobai keep a close eye on them. Fortunately, Rongtuanzi is very reliable, and now is the perfect opportunity to wipe out all those who are profiting from this tragedy online!

"It's over! It's over! It's over!" The ambulance, siren blaring, rushed into the residential area where Hua Zaihong lived, and then quickly sped out again, siren blaring, heading straight for the hospital.

Self-media anchors and onlookers took advantage of the chaos to gather downstairs.

"They were carried down from 1003. The doctor said they must have taken some medicine!"

"Tsk tsk, she's even prettier in person than in photos, what a pity."

"She actually married a poor man who's worse than an animal. What's the point of being so beautiful?"

"See? This is what happens if you don't value money! If you're after a man who treats you well, you'll lose everything when he stops treating you well; if you're after money, at least you can make some money, have a house and a car, and not be poor!"

"Why would you be so despondent as to commit suicide?"

"If you were surrounded by people staring and pointing at you every day, you would also break down."

"When something goes wrong, you should first look for the cause within yourself. Look at Wei Jiangchen, wasn't she in a worse situation? Did she commit suicide? Not only did she not commit suicide, she also took the opportunity to become an internet celebrity and made a fortune! To put it bluntly, it's because her mental fortitude is not up to par. It's not a pity that someone like her would commit suicide..."

…………

Even after everyone had been taken away, the onlookers were still pointing and discussing amongst themselves. Many self-media anchors quickly packed their things to try and sneak into the hospital to get some firsthand "information."

"Awoo! Awoo!" The police car followed closely behind the ambulance.

As soon as they got out of the car, the lead officer gestured with his hand, "Take them all away and question them one by one. Is it acceptable to restrict personal freedom or even drive someone to suicide? In a society governed by law, people are breaking the law in broad daylight for a little bit of traffic. That's a human life! These people have no bottom line when it comes to gaining fame!"

The streamers who were live-streaming to report the situation to their "family" in exchange for tips were completely dumbfounded.

"Mom, I'm so proud of myself! I even saw some precious footage of the streamer being arrested by the police while watching a live stream!"

"Holy crap! This perspective and the immersive feeling of being captured are amazing!"

"What did I tell you? Don't get involved in the fun. You got arrested for profiting from other people's misfortunes, didn't you? This streamer, who always seems to enjoy the drama, deserved to be arrested!"

"What? Then why are you even watching? Watching online is still watching!"

"Exactly, without our traffic, the streamers wouldn't have come all this way to wait around, right?"

"Let's get out of here, let's get out of here. Don't let them trace me down the internet cable and arrest me too..."

…………

The numerous live stream rooms immediately erupted in excitement. Some people logged off, some waited to watch the excitement, and many more flocked in after hearing about it, eager to see what would happen next.

"Ugh..." Hua Zaihong let out a weak groan, slowly opened her eyes and saw that the person sitting opposite her on the hospital bed was Wei Jiangchen, the person she had last messaged. Her lips moved but before she could speak, tears rolled down her cheeks.

Jiang Chen was sitting beside her reading a book. When she saw that she had woken up, a smile appeared on her face, and she asked, "Stomach pumping must be very uncomfortable, right? The doctor said you were brought in in time and there's nothing seriously wrong. How could you be so pessimistic?"

"I...I have nothing left!" Having just escaped death, Hua Zaihong was filled with complex emotions.

She was grateful to have been rescued and to continue living, but the thought of facing endless mental torment made her feel that it was too unbearable.

"How could there be nothing at all?" Jiang Chen smiled and comforted him, "Although you experienced misfortune, you were able to jump out of an even deeper fire pit because of it, so it can be considered a blessing in disguise."

It's a good thing your family is gone; as for your job, I've heard the details from the lawyer. The company was afraid of getting into trouble, so they transferred their top salesperson out of their position. It's better not to stay at such a short-sighted, narrow-minded, and petty company.

Why don't you quit your job and come work for my company?

Although I provide free pro bono legal aid, all my company employees are paid salaries, including the lawyers I work with, who also receive above-market wages. After all, doing charity work is my personal decision; everyone needs to earn a living, how can we rely solely on love?

"Just get through this period, and once those lawbreakers pay the price, your good days will begin."

Hua Zaihong covered her face with her hands and sobbed softly. A kind word warms the heart for three winter months, while a harsh word chills the heart for six summer months. In this world full of malice, the warmth of kind people gives her the will to live. She can no longer give up!

Just as Jiang Chen returned to his office after calming Hua Zaihong down, he heard a hesitant knock on the door.

"Come in." He frowned slightly, thinking to himself that his company was full of efficient and energetic employees, so who would knock on the door like this?

The office door opened, and a girl who looked to be about twenty-one or twenty-two years old entered after a slight hesitation. Her bright and beautiful eyes looked at him and she said softly, "I...I want to ask you for help!"

When their eyes met, Jiang Chen instantly saw a bright starry sky and a vast ocean in those eyes.

A sense of familiarity welled up inside him. Although he had never seen this pretty face before, he knew that he had encountered her countless times in the worlds past.

Chapter 18: Even receiving a package can lead to rumors...

"My name is Ye Ruoyi, and I'm from Shenhong City." The girl was initially very nervous, but after entering the house and looking at the handsome man who was about her age and had a determined look in his eyes, her uneasy heart gradually calmed down.

She sat down across from the desk, unlocked her phone, opened social media, placed it on the table, and pushed it over. "These are the harassing messages I received after I was falsely accused."

Ye Ruoyi is 22 years old this year. After graduating, she stayed in Shenhong City, where she was studying, to work as a designer at an advertising company.

The company wasn't large, and the interpersonal relationships were relatively simple. She originally thought that finding a stable job would allow her to settle down and live a peaceful life in this city. Unexpectedly, less than half a year after starting the job, a rumor completely disrupted her peaceful life.

"I was just feeling unwell that day, so I ordered a delivery service online to buy two boxes of medicine for me." When she mentioned the truth that was used to fabricate rumors, Ye Ruoyi's eyes instantly reddened and her voice trembled slightly as she said, "At that time, a large package that my roommate had ordered was delivered to our door."

The delivery person simply lent a hand to the courier, helping him carry the box into the house. My roommate signed for the package in the living room. The delivery person then gave me the medicine. It was such a simple situation, but someone took a picture of it.

Then they spread rumors that I had inappropriate relationships with two men…

The rumors started circulating at some unknown time, and by the time Ye Ruoyi found out, they were out of control. She reported it to the police, but because a considerable amount of time had passed, the origin was difficult to trace, and issuing a notice had little effect.

The lives of deliverymen and errand runners have not been affected at all, probably because they are men. At most, someone might casually make a joke praising them for their ability to find such beautiful girls.

But Ye Ruoyi's life was completely disrupted. The nosy old men and women in the community were shouting and making veiled accusations; many people in the owners' group jointly demanded that the tenants who were ruining the reputation of the community be evicted.

The rumors spread from the internet to reality, and a single announcement did not silence the gossip. In addition to people pointing fingers at her behind her back, new rumors circulated that she appeared innocent on the surface but was actually promiscuous and had an affair with the head of the design department.

"The video that was used to spread rumors was just me going to my supervisor's office to submit a design proposal." Ye Ruoyi, her voice trembling with tears, showed him the videos that were spreading rumors. "They filmed me going in and out of the office and then spread those rumors! My supervisor's wife came to the company and threatened to beat up his mistress. No matter how I explained, no one listened or believed me."

They showed me my payslip and said the huge bonus was a "kept woman" allowance from my supervisor.

But I earned all of that by working overtime!

I couldn't stand being at my company anymore and wanted to find a new job, but all my resumes I sent out disappeared without a trace. Then, an HR representative from one company told me directly that someone had posted my profile on the biggest designer website and forum.

Now the entire design industry knows I 'seduce' my boss, and even the delivery guys. I keep getting rejected when I look for work, and I'm even getting harassed by a lot of unknown numbers. I... I didn't do anything wrong, yet I've lost my reputation and my job..."

The methods used to spread rumors are similar, but the consequences they cause have a serious impact on the victims.

Having transmigrated into the original owner's body, Jiang Chen deeply empathized with Ye Ruoyi's current torment of resentment and helplessness, having experienced the torment she endured in her memories.

“I set up this public interest legal aid program to help victims get justice. Don’t worry, the truth will definitely be revealed to the public.” He stood up and patted the other person’s hand to comfort him.

With tears in her eyes, Ye Ruoyi tried her best not to appear vulnerable, her body trembling slightly as she said, "Even if the truth is revealed, what then? Those who spread rumors won't listen at all."

My roommate tried to explain countless times, but the people at the company who were just watching the drama ignored them and only focused on the 'explosive' inside story, constantly pressing her for answers and trying to dig deeper into my privacy.

And… I’ve been posted on design websites and forums, and I’ve been blacklisted by various companies in the industry. Even if they could clear my name, they would still refuse to avoid trouble. I… I don’t dare tell my family about this, but if I can’t find a job and have no source of income, then… I’ll keep it a secret.”

Since the rumors started, they've been all around me and I can't escape them.

She was suffering both physically and mentally, and her state of mind was so tense that she was on the verge of collapse. She wanted to protect her rights, but when Ye Ruoyi consulted a law firm in Shenhong City, she learned that collecting evidence and going to court would take so long and cost so much money!

How could a junior designer who has only been out of school for a little over half a year possibly spend so much money and energy dealing with rumor-mongers?

Moreover, the rumors have changed in many ways since they were first spread. Each person who repeats the original words has a different interpretation. In addition, many people have added their own embellishments, speculations, and delusions, making it extremely difficult to investigate them.

My parents live in a small county town and have always felt that it's a waste of time for a girl to go to university. If I hadn't insisted on working part-time to finish university, I would have been dragged back to the small county town to be arranged to marry someone with a high dowry, according to my parents' wishes.

When Ye Ruoyi was truly desperate, a legal assistant mentioned a newly established public interest legal aid organization in Fuyu City. With nothing to lose, she searched online and learned about Wei Jiangchen's story.