As the controversy raged on, Wang Jiayin, one of the key figures in the incident, suddenly spoke out.
Unlike what the assistant claimed about him trying to gain sympathy by feigning victimhood against Jing Li, he posted a Weibo message that seemed like a clarification.
Wang Jiayin V: Don’t speculate, everyone. Jing Li and I are actually good friends in private.
However, his clarification not only failed to prove anything but instead infuriated the netizens and fans even more.
“Even if you’re the best of friends, shaming you in front of so many people was too much!”
“If being a good friend means being ignored and embarrassed like this, then who needs such friends?”
“Xiao Yin, stop trying to cover for him! He clearly doesn’t appreciate it!”
“Do you really think you can do whatever you want just because you won two shady awards? When did the entertainment industry’s standards drop so low?”
“Xiao Yin, were you threatened into saying that? Don’t worry, we’ll always support you!”
“The authorities have been tagged to investigate. The law should not turn a blind eye to power and influence!”
“Jing Li, get out of the entertainment industry!”
…
Although there were paid trolls trying to steer the narrative towards their friendship, netizens and fans were too deeply affected by what they had witnessed. Not only did no one buy it, but the backlash intensified, with some extreme fans even lashing out at those attempting to defuse the situation.
The comment section became even more chaotic.
“Damn! Wang Jiayin really has some nerve!” The assistant cursed while refreshing the comments. “Playing the victim and now pretending to be the good guy online. Is he trying to speak for Er Shao? I think he’s just shamelessly trying to ride the heat! It’s so shameless!”
“Does he think we don’t know what he’s been up to behind the scenes?”
Gu Tingshen’s expression darkened once more.
Jing Li also took out his phone and opened Weibo, only to be bombarded with countless private messages and mentions, causing the app to freeze. After a pause, he ignored the constantly refreshing notifications, searched for Wang Jiayin’s Weibo, glanced at it, and calmly told the assistant, “Let Wang-jie take action.”
“Did you hear that?” Gu Tingshen also relayed to Secretary Qin on the other end of the line. “Have the PR department coordinate with Xiao Jing’s team directly.”
Secretary Qin acknowledged and hung up to handle the matter.
Meanwhile, Jing Li exited Wang Jiayin’s Weibo and casually updated his own.
Jing Li V: I don’t dare.1愧不敢当 (kuì bù gǎn dāng) – lit. I’m ashamed and dare not (accept the honor); fig. I do not deserve your praise. / You flatter me too much.
Just three simple words, but it was clear to anyone with discernment that he was responding to Wang Jiayin’s claim about their friendship.
Gu Tingshen, who was seated beside him, witnessed his actions and immediately reposted on Weibo.
Gu Tingshen V: Xiao Jing would never have such a “friend.” // Jing Li: Unworthy.
Their Weibo posts were almost simultaneous. The numerous netizens and fans who initially saw Jing Li’s post were puzzled until they noticed Gu Tingshen’s repost, and everything became clear.
“??? Boss Gu’s speed, are you sitting right next to Jing Li?”
“Hmmm, do I suddenly smell something unusual?”
“Jing Li is so direct, and Gu Tingshen is backing him up. Could Wang Jiayin have done something bad to him behind the scenes?”
“This reminds me of those anti-Jing Li topics on the hot search…”
“Ahhhh, Mr. Gu is so doting! No matter what Jing Shao did, he’s the first to support him!!”
“At a time like this, how could Big Brother be absent! @JingYu, quick, Big Brother! Someone is bullying your little brother!”
“What do these two mean? They did something wrong and still have the face to come out and play the victim?”
“Heh, birds of a feather indeed. The nerve to say such things at a time like this!”
“Go to hell, Jing Li, do you think Xiao Yin is so eager to be your friend? You are so shameless!”
…
Following that, friends like Hu Li and Wang Lele also reposted in support.
Hu Li V: I’ve said it, apart from me, where does Jing Li get other good friends! // Jing Li: Unworthy.
Wang Lele V: What about me? // Hu Li: I told you, besides me…
With these reposts, more people became aware of the incident. Aside from a few supporters of their idols, most were infuriated by these people’s actions, which seemed to abet the wrongdoing, and the cursing became even fiercer.
Although the paid trolls retreated after sensing the tide turning against them, Wang Jiayin’s fans and some self-proclaimed justice warriors were further provoked by Jing Li, unleashing a torrent of unsightly comments.
However, just when everyone was in an uproar, an explosive post titled “The Insider Truth About Wang Jiayin Being Targeted by Jing Li” suddenly appeared online.
Drawn by the blunt title, countless enraged or curious netizens clicked through, determined to uncover the shocking truth that led Jing Li to publicly humiliate Wang Jiayin.
Yet after reading the entire expose, everyone fell silent.
The post didn’t delve into unnecessary details but directly exposed several chat logs of Wang Jiayin hiring trolls to smear nominees for various awards, complete with a transaction screenshot.
Jing Li’s name was prominently featured among those chat logs.
Most shockingly, there was a discussion about whether to target Jing Li as well.
[Fish Water: I see Jing Li’s name on the nominee list too. Should we smear him as well?]
[Yu Gong: Otherwise? Do you think if you expose everyone else but leave Jing Li out, how will netizens think?]
[Big Fish: It could also be that Jing Li hired someone to smear himself.]
[Algae Spirit: And if Jing Li were to find out about this…]
[Yu Gong: Are you kidding? Have you ever seen anyone blacken others and leave themselves out?]
[Yu Gong: Besides, so many people get dragged in before every awards ceremony. As long as you’re discreet enough for him not to notice, it’ll be fine!]
[Big Fish: It’s not about being discreet or not.]
[Yu Gong: Enough, let’s not waste time! I’ll just add more money if needed!]
…
The screenshots ended there, suggesting this was likely a group chat created by Wang Jiayin’s studio to coordinate with the troll team. The user named “Fish Water” seemed to be a popular marketing account on Weibo, while the one named “Yu Gong” had the same avatar as Wang Jiayin’s assistant.
This time, Jing Li’s fans erupted.
“Damn! I said Jing Li is such a gentleman, how could he suddenly do such a thing? Turns out someone was indeed scheming behind his back!”
“Where are Wang Jiayin’s fans? Hurry up and come out to apologize to Jing Shao!”
“Buying trolls to slander on one hand and pretending to be innocent on the other, congratulating people, how shameless can you be?”
“So even with paid publicity, it was all for nothing?”
“You lowlife, how dare you play the victim after pulling these despicable acts? Oh, sorry, I forgot you have no shame!”
“Jing Shao was right, who would dare be friends with such a person? You’d get used and end up getting skinned!”
…
It’s said fans follow their idol’s lead. Jing Li has always been courteous and gentlemanly, so his fans were mostly rational and mild-mannered. But when faced with being schemed against, the fans became just as sharp and unyielding as their idol.
However, Wang Jiayin’s fans were clearly in denial, rushing to counterattack.
“A few screenshots and chat logs, and you’re trying to pin the blame on Xiao Yin? Are Koi fans running out of excuses to shift the blame?”
“What apology? Randomly using an avatar similar to the assistant’s to fabricate evidence, who are you trying to fool?”
“Jing Li’s fans are as disgusting as him!”
“I think so too, these screenshots can’t prove it was Wang Jiayin, right?”
“Hugging my dear Yan-jie, this has nothing to do with us. Please don’t drag in unrelated artists.”
“Please don’t cue irrelevant artists. Ee don’t want to get involved in this mess, thank you!”
…
The fans of the other nominated artists mentioned in the screenshots rushed to distance themselves, with even some passers-by coming to Wang Jiayin’s defense. Some even went to the Fish Water marketing account and bombarded them with mentions, demanding they speak up for Wang Jiayin.
These bizarre actions made Koi fans laugh in anger.
Amidst the heated argument between the two sides, the person behind Fish Water actually spoke up, but it wasn’t to defend Wang Jiayin. Instead, it was an apology letter.
In the letter, the Fish Water person directly admitted to accepting Wang Jiayin’s assistant’s request to smear other nominees on the list and sincerely apologized to those affected. They even directly mentioned Wang Jiayin and his studio, stating that this violated their contract and they were willing to return the payment received, hoping for everyone’s forgiveness.
After the apology letter, the Fish Water person also uploaded an audio recording of a conversation between Wang Jiayin’s assistant and their staff, including details about hiring trolls to sabotage fellow nominees and discussions about subsequent plans. Wang Jiayin’s assistant specifically emphasized that they should target Wang Jiayin himself too, but the content had to be reviewed by them before being released.
With this recording, Wang Jiayin’s fans had no way to deny it further, while Jing Li’s fans grew even angrier, as did the fans of other artists who were collaterally smeared.
“Wang Jiayin’s fans, keep denying? Why so quiet now?”
“You chose to turn a blind eye to the screenshots, how about the audio?”
“Damn! I initially thought it had nothing to do with me, but now I’m told my Yan-jie’s reputation was also smeared by you?”
“You really went all out, didn’t you? So everyone nominated was in your way?”
“Being targeted from so far away, do you think you’re some big bad wolf?”
…
At this point, it was clear to anyone with discernment what had happened. With so many artists implicated and their fan bases rallying, public opinion swiftly turned against Wang Jiayin, with condemnations pouring in from all sides.
Seeing this, Wang Jiayin’s fans panicked and, unable to match the other fan bases, redirected their attacks towards Fish Water, who had sparked this uproar.
“F*ck! So what if you exposed us? Don’t want to be criticized, then don’t be so obvious.”
“Flies don’t bite flawless eggs2苍蝇不叮无缝蛋 (cāng yíng bú dīng wú féng dàn) – lit. Flies don’t bite seamless eggs. It is a metaphor that if you have no weaknesses, others will have no loopholes to take advantage of.! If your idol had no flaws, could others slander him?”
“Fish Water, you scumbag, how much did Jing Li pay you to fabricate these lies and slander?”
“Fish Water, you’re so arrogant and conceited, thinking our fans are easy targets? Wait for me to send you some blades!”
…
The person in charge of Fish and Water didn’t intend for this to happen.
Initially, the recording was accidentally captured during a phone call and subconsciously saved. If not for the call from Jing Li’s team, they would not have released it.
No one in this business wants to burn bridges with clients, especially considering how much effort Fish Water had invested in building that marketing account, which is now ruined after this incident.
They regretted being blinded by money, thinking they could get away with it as long as they were discreet. Little did they expect the situation to spiral so far out of control.
Fish Water’s person was filled with remorse, hoping Jing Li would show leniency for their admission of guilt.
But that was clearly just a fantasy.
Shortly after Fish Water published the apology, Gu Group directly released a lawyer’s letter, stating they would hold the marketing company behind Fish Water, as well as Wang Jiayin and his team, accountable for intentionally defaming Jing Li’s reputation. They would also be suing Fish Water for spreading rumors about Jing Li colluding with the Feitian Awards organizers.
Attached to the lawyer’s letter were screenshots of the false statements made by Fish Water’s trolls.
Simultaneously, a new lengthy exposé about Wang Jiayin quickly went viral, shooting to the top of hot searches.
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