109: Let's talk to my lawyer.

After grasping the initial information, the media began to exercise their subjective initiative, fabricating information on the existing foundation. Some gossip about Li Xiuwu's conduct on set soon emerged.

The news about him being a top scholar of the college entrance examination was also dug up, only this time it was turned into mockery.

His classmates were all interviewed; those who had entered society after graduating from high school answered according to the reporters' demands.

His classmates from the Beijing Film Academy basically kept their mouths shut and refused interviews, but there were exceptions.

"We are not very clear about his character, and we are quite curious about him too. He rarely comes to school." Faced with the interview, Jiang Yiyan said so.

Based on various interviews, the media pieced together an image of him as rebellious, talented, but not taking his studies seriously.

The media also pieced together an image of him as someone who came from a poor family yet did as he pleased, and who became arrogant and ignorant of the heights of the world after suddenly striking it rich.

All kinds of negative comments surged in like a tide, forming a wave of public opinion.

The truth about the fight was on the internet, but it no longer mattered.

...

"Mr. Li Xiuwu, we have received a report from netizens about a brawl, and someone has uploaded a video related to the fight. We are now summoning both parties involved in the incident in accordance with the law. We hope you can come to the XX Police Station to clarify the situation in person."

"Alright, I'll head over now." Li Xiuwu did not refuse the summons.

He was in a very bad mood, not because of public opinion—public opinion couldn't hurt him in the slightest, and being blacklisted didn't matter to him—but because this incident should never have happened.

Perhaps continuous success and the accumulation of wealth had already made his subordinates arrogant.

With the Loyalty Aura, he did not doubt these people's loyalty, but the Loyalty Aura would not make a person's character flaws disappear.

Qiu Wanjun knew best how much capital Li Xiuwu possessed; consequently, his status in the business circle had risen, and because of this, he had developed a sense of arrogance.

Upon hearing that his boss possessed ten billion in capital, Wang Cheng also became frivolous and arrogant.

After hanging up the phone, Li Xiuwu called Chi Yufeng: "President Chi, bring a lawyer and come to the XX Police Station."

After Qiu Wanjun left Dream Time, Chi Yufeng took over as the general manager of the company.

"Alright." Chi Yufeng agreed decisively. The public opinion was too overwhelming; even he, a person devoted to game development, knew about it. Now, many people at Dream Time knew the news and were discussing how to help their boss.

Knock, knock, knock.

Chi Yufeng tapped on the table: "The boss is asking for me now. You guys discuss it and see if there's any way. Beyond your normal salaries and bonuses, the boss gives you bonuses every year. Don't let the boss down."

The crowd's eyes were full of anger: "We'll see if these people are all that clean."

Chi Yufeng called the lawyer, thought for a moment, then went to the security department and called for two sturdy and sharp security guards before heading to the address Li Xiuwu had given.

After arriving at the agreed location, he found Li Xiuwu's car and got in with the lawyer.

"Boss, this is the company's lawyer, Xing Yirang." Chi Yufeng introduced him.

"You should both know about the incident. Analyze the situation." Li Xiuwu nodded at the two and asked directly.

"The people who reported this probably weren't the other party, because the other party has already constituted a gang-related armed gathering and brawl, which is a criminal offense."

"Even though our country's laws on legitimate defense are rarely applied, even if you were judged to have used excessive force in self-defense, you would only need to pay some medical expenses. As for them, especially Nicholas Tse, who clearly directed the crowd to attack you in the video, they belong to an armed gang and will all need to go to jail."

The lawyer analyzed the incident and finally reached a conclusion.

"Our side might be involved in a civil dispute, whereas the other party's actions fall under a criminal public prosecution case."

"Hmm." Li Xiuwu nodded after listening; it was good as long as it remained within the law.

"Come in with me."

Li Xiuwu's car drove to the entrance of the police station. They got out together and walked in.

At the street corner, a young reporter named Jiang Qing was frantically clicking the shutter, secretly rejoicing that calling the police was indeed useful, as he could see Li Xiuwu.

He ran over to interview Li Xiuwu.

"Li Xiuwu, do you have violent tendencies? What caused you to have such a violent personality?"

The security guards Chi Yufeng brought over stepped forward to block Jiang Qing.

Li Xiuwu looked at him: "Did you call the police?"

"Are you trying to retaliate against me?" Reporter Jiang Qing became vigilant immediately.

"Your brain is quite agile. Are you interested in working at our company?" Li Xiuwu looked down at him.

"I am a reporter, I have the right to report, and I am not afraid of retaliation." Reporter Jiang Qing held his head high, full of arrogance.

"You've got spirit." Li Xiuwu gave him a thumbs up and turned to walk into the police station.

Not long after, Director appeared with a gloomy face.

Reporter Jiang Qing was still thinking about what kind of report to cook up—whether it was about Li Xiuwu being summoned by the police station, or Li Xiuwu violently threatening and intimidating a righteous reporter.

He was beaming with joy. Seeing Director, he immediately ran over to interview Director.

Director was no fool. It was impossible for the crew or the Hong Kong Circle to have called the police, and it was impossible for Li Xiuwu to have called the police either. The reporter in front of him, with his excited face and the arrogance of a young man, was clearly suspicious.

"What is your name, and which newspaper are you from?" Director reined in the gloom on his face, his chubby face appearing kind and approachable.

"I am Jiang Qing, a reporter for Star Talk. Director Wang, how do you view Li Xiuwu as a person?" The smile on Director's face made him feel like he was bathed in a spring breeze.

"Good, good, you're a good young man." Director patted Jiang Qing on the shoulder, turned, and walked into the police station, his face turning gloomy again.

The crew and the Hong Kong Circle had already discussed this matter, and the possibility of calling the police had been unanimously rejected.

They were not in the right, and once it involved the authorities, their behavior would be classified as a criminal case, and someone would definitely have to go to jail.

Originally, this matter would not have been pursued by officials if the victims didn't complain, but now that public opinion had exploded, it would depend on everyone's own methods.

Now that the police had been called, even if Li Xiuwu didn't pursue it, the police wouldn't let them off easily. How could he not be angry?

...

The police's questioning of Li Xiuwu was very simple, mainly asking if he had any past grievances with Dicky Cheung and the others, and what he was thinking when he started the fight.

"I don't know how I offended them; they just wanted to beat me up for no reason." Li Xiuwu played dumb to everything, and when asked further, he told them to watch the video.

What was he thinking? The two idiots on the other side.

After the police finished their basic questioning of Li Xiuwu, the remaining matters were left to Xing Yirang.

"We demand that the police severely crack down on this kind of armed gang organization and combat organized violent crime."

Director, who had just walked in behind them, heard this and his face turned green.

"Li Xiuwu, let's discuss this." Director looked at Li Xiuwu.

Li Xiuwu sat on the chair without even lifting his head: "Discuss it with my lawyer."

Director looked at that righteous, indignant, and heartbroken lawyer.

"In the dignified capital, there are actually people organizing armed gangs, following others' orders. This is a regression of the law, a tragedy of humanity, and a naked provocation against a society ruled by law."

This time, not only did Director's face turn green, but the police officers' faces also looked very ugly.

The police looked at Li Xiuwu, then at Chi Yufeng, and then at the furiously ranting Xing Yirang.

Judging from their status, Li Xiuwu was clearly not a simple artist.

"Ahem, we will definitely enforce the law impartially." An experienced police officer decided to send Li Xiuwu and his party away first.

"We were just summoning you as a routine procedure. Li Xiuwu was in a passive state during this incident, so you can go back first. We will conduct further investigations. We hope your phone remains accessible."

"Ahem." Xing Yirang stepped forward: "My client is being slandered by the media, which has already caused serious damage to his reputation. I am formally filing a report on behalf of my client."

"My client's phone has already been blown up by members of the public who do not know the truth. This is my business card. If you need to contact my client, you can call this number first."