Chapter 34: The World Shall Spurn You

At 1:30 PM, the courthouse gates swung open, and staff notified the parties involved that they could enter.

"Cheng Cheng, tell us something more!"
"Yes! Are you confident about this hearing?"
"Cheng Cheng, is your current mental state related to being exposed by Zhang Jiao?"

Seeing that Cheng Cheng was about to enter, the influencers and reporters could no longer sit still, shouting their questions at him. Cheng Cheng stopped, faced the cameras, and said, "I believe that the innocent will always be cleared. I will definitely win!"

With that, he ignored them further and entered the courthouse alongside his defense attorney. Before the proceedings began, his friends and family had sent him messages.

Jiang Nan: "Chengzi, go for it! If you win, I'll treat you to a meal!"
Beret: "Director Cheng, good luck! Forge ahead, victory is in sight!"
Li Yang: "Director, the whole crew is waiting for your triumphant return. We all believe in you!"
Wen Lian: "Director Cheng, the set feels much slower without you. Please come back soon. Yan Gou'er hasn't had any energy filming this morning; she definitely wants you to coach her on her scenes again."
Yan Gou'er: "Director Cheng! Don't listen to Sister Lian's nonsense; I haven't been listless at all~ Also, justice is on your side. I believe you will win the lawsuit! Go, go, go!"
Lu Chen: "Brother Cheng, charge! You must make sure Zhang Jiao receives the punishment she deserves. You are our spiritual faith now!"
Tang Biao: "Brother Frog, I support you. The law will surely give you a fair outcome."

Beyond these, his social media accounts were flooded with comments from countless "haters" who were also cheering him on. Unknowingly, a vast crowd had gathered around him.

After surrendering his phone and following the staff's instructions, Cheng Cheng was seated at the plaintiff's table. Then came the tedious trial preparations: verifying the presence of all parties and participants, announcing courtroom decorum, checking identities, stating the cause of action, and reading the list of judicial personnel and court clerks. Cheng Cheng found himself drowsy during this part.

Outside, discussions about the trial were in a frenzy. Whether Cheng Cheng or Zhang Jiao would prevail was a subject of heated debate, capturing the hearts of countless people.

—

Xianghua Entertainment.
"Don't worry, I've already made the necessary arrangements. Since he’s already terminated his contract, we must crush him completely!"
"I can't wait to see Cheng Cheng’s reputation ruined. He still wants to struggle? What’s the point of struggling? It’s all in vain!"
"Remember to buy the trending topics in advance."
"Already done. As soon as the trial ends, we’ll start building momentum. It’ll be hard for Cheng Cheng to survive this. It’s a pity about the tens of millions he invested in that film, tch, tch."

Fanghua Skincare.
"This event is a golden opportunity for us! We are on the opposing side of Cheng Cheng; the harder he falls, the more we profit!"
"Cheng Cheng probably never dreamed his failure would lead to our success, hahaha!"
"What a clown! He should have just paid the damages obediently in the beginning! Who told him to be so greedy? He really doesn't know who holds the power in the entertainment industry!"
"This is the price for offending us!"

At that moment, similar conversations were taking place in countless other companies—all those that Cheng Cheng had sued.

Wansi Pictures.
The secretary asked, "Director Jiang, are we really not going to exert any effort at all?"
Jiang Wang retorted, "Exert effort for what?"
The secretary said, "I’m just worried the young lady will be unhappy."
Jiang Wang replied, "What is there to be unhappy about? There are so many handsome men and beauties in the entertainment industry; it’s not like there’s only one Cheng Cheng. Xiao Nan will eventually forget him."
The secretary asked again, "What about the movie we’re collaborating on with Cheng Cheng?"
Jiang Wang looked out the window, indifferent: "Hasn't the money for that film not been spent yet? We haven't lost anything! Besides, what’s the use of exerting effort? Let the kid fend for his own fate."

—

At the courthouse entrance, the influencers, reporters, and Zhang Jiao’s supporters remained, waiting anxiously for the parties to emerge. The reporters and influencers, in particular, were desperate for a scoop. Time ticked away, second by second.

Soon, two hours had passed, and the parties still hadn't come out. Anxiousness began to spread through the crowd. Some reporters made phone calls, trying to reach internal sources for clues, while some influencers busied themselves updating their social media, trying to alleviate their anxiety by chasing views. Some even started livestreams, setting up prize wheels to gamble on the outcome.

Finally, as the clock struck 4:30, the parties emerged from the courthouse. In an instant, the crowd surged forward. Reporters raised their cameras and recorders, shouting names to grab attention; influencers were not to be outdone, holding their phones aloft to capture the scene.

"Who won the lawsuit?!"
"What is the verdict? Can you disclose it?"
"Zhang Jiao, I’m from Morning Meeting TV, can you give us an interview?"

Both Cheng Cheng and Zhang Jiao were shielded by their respective entourages, but their states were vastly different. A single tear rolled down the corner of Cheng Cheng’s eye, heavy as if weighted by thousands of pounds. He turned his head, seemingly unwilling to let others see his loss of composure, and raised his hand to wipe it away discreetly, revealing a smile of profound relief.

The crowd let out a collective "Oh~": they were once again stunned by Cheng Cheng’s beauty! How could there be such a handsome man in the world? From his slender, prominent nose to his perfect chin, the lines were smooth and natural, sketching out a three-dimensional, flawless face. His build was tall and lithe, his posture elegant and composed; he looked like a character stepped out of a manga, captivating everyone. Every movement of his was like a piece of art, heart-stopping in its grace.

The vulnerability he revealed in that moment was also deeply moving—like a character from an Abushivido play, or a prince lost deep in a forest who had finally found the exit. Oh~ he must have had a thousand words to say, didn't he?

Zhang Jiao, however, looked terrified, as if the sky were falling. She hid behind her friends, avoiding everyone’s gaze, wanting only to flee. From their respective states, the people on the scene had already guessed the outcome.

"Cheng Cheng, did you win the case?" a reporter squeezed to the front.
"Yes, I won! The judge granted all my claims! Following this, Zhang Jiao will apologize to me on public platforms and pin the apology for three days!"

Cheng Cheng’s voice was low, as if intense emotions were pent up in his chest, yet he held himself with stubborn, unyielding poise. Upon this declaration, the entire crowd erupted. Although they had guessed it, the confirmation was still shocking. Did this mean the "Cheng Cheng Infidelity Scandal" that had lasted three or four months—no, it should now be called the "Cheng Cheng Infidelity Slander Case"—had finally come to an end?

Had the situation reversed? Was the whole internet wrong? Had Xianghua Entertainment, Fanghua Skincare, and the netizens all been wrong? Was Cheng Cheng truly innocent? Could he appear in the public eye again?

"Cheng Cheng, how do you feel right now?"
"Cheng Cheng, can you share how you got through the last two or three months?"

In an instant, Cheng Cheng was surrounded.

"Let’s go, Jiao Jiao. A single trial doesn't mean anything," Zhang Jiao’s friend said.
"Yes," a foreign face from Zhang Jiao’s team added, "Jiao, I can apply for political asylum for you. You can come to live in the Serin Republic. The Serin Press has reported on your deeds many times; you are already a celebrity there. You can join us, you will definitely be very popular. We need talent like you!"

The Serin Republic, or "Selinx," was the world’s current leading superpower, though it was already in decline. Zhang Jiao did not answer; she felt incredibly dazed, the internal contradictions and conflicts leaving her tortured and helpless. How had she ended up here? She was originally a college student with a bright future, dating a top-tier celebrity. How, in the blink of an eye, had she become a pariah in her own country, being persuaded to flee to a foreign land?

*Is it really me who was wrong?*

As soon as this thought arose, Zhang Jiao quickly rejected it. *No, I am not wrong! I am not wrong!!! It is all Cheng Cheng’s fault! It is all that man’s fault!!! If he hadn't exposed my personal information, I wouldn't have been ruined. If he hadn't sued me, I wouldn't be facing this humiliation today!*

Zhang Jiao looked at the foreign man and asked, "If I go to the Serin Republic, can I continue to expose Cheng Cheng’s ugly face?"

The foreign man was overjoyed, saying repeatedly, "Of course! Of course you can!"

"Zhang Jiao, can you give us an interview?"
"Did you receive instructions to falsely accuse Cheng Cheng, or was there an ulterior motive?"

On this side, reporters and influencers had crowded around as well.
"Sorry, we are not accepting interviews."
"Please step aside, or we will call the police."

Zhang Jiao’s friends and supporters shoved the reporters and influencers to keep them away. Just then, Cheng Cheng strode over, heading straight for Zhang Jiao. All the influencers and reporters were thrilled! Holy crap! Cheng Cheng was going to confront Zhang Jiao! This was huge news! It would definitely break the internet! In an instant, they found their filming positions. Zhang Jiao’s friends and supporters were caught off guard and couldn't even stop Cheng Cheng before he reached her.

Zhang Jiao looked at the man who had once been her intimate partner, her lips trembling as she asked, "What do you want?"

Cheng Cheng stared at her. "I just wanted to see you up close."

The crowd: ?
*Holy crap? Is this a case of old flames still burning?*
Zhang Jiao felt a spark of fantasy in her heart.

But the next second, Cheng Cheng extinguished their romantic notions: "I wanted to see just how blind I was in the past."

Zhang Jiao bit her lip, her nails digging into her palms; she wished she could devour Cheng Cheng.

Cheng Cheng continued, "Now that I’ve seen you, I’ve discovered that both inside and out, you are an ugly woman! Your actions have challenged both the public's moral bottom line and the standards of social decency! On a small scale, this is your own greed and moral decay. On a larger scale, you have opened Pandora's box and caused social fragmentation!"

Zhang Jiao was shaking with rage, screaming, "I’ve already lost the lawsuit, do you still have to hound me? Why won't you let me go?"

Cheng Cheng roared back, his voice even louder: "It isn't me hounding you, and it isn't me refusing to let you go—it is the public that will hound you! It is the public that will refuse to let you go! It is kind people who will hound you! It is kind people who will refuse to let you go!"

"Your name is destined to be nailed to the pillar of shame in history! You are a sinner of this generation and for ages to come! And do you know what the funniest thing is?"

Cheng Cheng abruptly looked up at the sky and spread his arms, like an emperor in a palace proclaiming his ambitions and ideals to the world: "The funniest part is that I will become famous all over the world, while you will be forever nailed to the pillar of shame. When people discuss the world-class star Cheng Cheng, they will remember you—the one who once slandered him and almost destroyed him! Then the media will write headlines like, 'Cheng Cheng is now the world’s most popular male star, the first of the 100 Most Handsome Faces globally; what is the current situation of Zhang Jiao, who once slandered him?'"

"Then your past will be dug up, and whatever you do in the future will be dug up. Netizens who click on it will be looking forward to seeing a miserable version of you, and then they will tear you apart! If you aren't miserable, netizens will make you miserable! The company or unit you work for will receive calls from netizens. Your colleagues, your husband, your children will learn of your past and despise everything about you. None of your attempts to hide will work."

"Those close to you will distance themselves, and the ones you love most will always be on guard against you!"

"This is the life you will have; this is your destiny!"

Zhang Jiao’s face was filled with terror, as if she were truly immersed in the future Cheng Cheng had described. Seeing this, the others—watching Cheng Cheng standing there with his arms wide, roaring and shouting, and Zhang Jiao shrinking away, weak and small—couldn't help but exclaim: *What a beautiful mental state! If someone didn't know better, they’d think Cheng Cheng was the villain bullying the weak!*

But the onlookers immediately found a footnote for his behavior: *Only the most extreme love can give birth to the most extreme hate! Cheng Cheng isn't roaring; he is wailing!*