Entertainment: I really don’t want to be a thief!

Chapter 472: The Battlefield of Public Opinion
Lin Ke stood up, walked to the window and looked at the city skyline in the distance. "Let the storm come more violently!" He turned to look at Li Ming, "I will deal with the battlefield of public opinion. No matter what, we cannot let the truth be buried."

In front of the screen, Lin Ke took a deep breath and started operating the computer. Click, upload, click again…and soon, all the files are online.

As expected, the internet immediately went wild.

"#小美美真真#" quickly climbed to the top of Weibo's hot searches. Netizens expressed their opinions:

"It's unbelievable! There is actually an entertainment company involved!"

"Little Meimei may also be a victim! We need more evidence!"

Controversies arose one after another in the comment area, with the pros and cons arguing fiercely.

Just as the online debate reached its climax, the lights in Lin Ke's live broadcast room flickered and started. In front of the camera, he looked serious:
"Hello everyone, are you all shocked by this incident?" Lin Ke said in a calm and firm tone, "Today I will tell you the whole truth - no cover-ups, no lies."

The number of viewers in the live broadcast room soared, and the number of online viewers exceeded historical records.

"First of all, please look at this transaction record and email exchange." The screen split showed the key evidence. "It can be clearly seen that the entertainment company is trying to control public opinion and use Xiao Meimei as a tool to make profits."

The scene switched back to Lin Ke's calm and determined face. "I know there are a lot of people who are standing with the little girl - because we all want her to be innocent. But remember: justice needs to be based on the facts."

The phone rang suddenly, and it was extremely clear during the live broadcast. "Please forgive me for having to answer this call." Lin Ke pressed the hands-free button.
A male voice came from the other end of the phone: "Mr. Lin, please stop the live broadcast! Otherwise you will bear legal responsibility!"

Audiences across the country witnessed this scene, and the atmosphere suddenly became tense.

Lin Ke stared at the camera: "If you reveal the truth, you will be threatened and intimidated." He paused, "Then, let me ask you - can we still call it a society ruled by law?"

Lin Ke's live broadcast caused a huge sensation, and the discussion on the Internet spread rapidly like a prairie fire. Netizens continue to dig out more information about Xiao Meimei's family. Evidence is pouring in, and the character of the girl's family begins to collapse.

At this moment, Lin Peng, the boss of the company behind Xiao Meimei, took the initiative to contact Lin Ke. He asked to meet and chat, and his attitude seemed a little eager.

The two met in a quiet cafe. Outside the window is the noisy city scene, but inside the store there is an oppressive silence.

Lin Peng was the first to break the silence: "Lin Ke, I know you have a lot of evidence against us."

Lin Ke sat across from him with sharp eyes: "Yes, it's enough to make you pay the price you deserve."

"Listen to me." Lin Peng waved his hands in an attempt to calm the atmosphere. "I admit that initially we did want to manipulate public opinion to benefit the company. But things have gotten out of control."

"Out of control? Are you realizing it now?" Lin Ke's voice was cold, "Because it was exposed, right?"

Lin Peng sighed, "I know the mistake has caused irreparable consequences. But please believe me, before this we didn't know that little Meimei and her family would go this far."

"So? You came to me now to ask for a light punishment?" Lin Ke looked at him sideways.

"Not exactly." Lin Peng spread his hands, "I hope to cooperate with you."

"Cooperation?" Lin Ke sneered, "What kind of cooperation? Continue to deceive the public?" "No!" Lin Peng hurriedly explained, "I mean... we can work together to expose deeper problems. There are others in this circle than us. Bigger, darker forces are at work.”

Lin Ke frowned and thought for a moment. "If you really want to correct your mistakes... then take action to prove it!"

There was a hint of urgency in Lin Peng's eyes. He approached the table and lowered his voice: "Lin Ke, I know you are a just person. But this matter is not as simple as you think. Please delete those videos and posts."

Lin Ke raised his eyebrows and smiled, "Delete? Just let all the truth disappear like this?"

"It's not disappearing." Lin Peng quickly explained, "We can re-investigate and give everyone a more comprehensive and accurate truth."

"Oh?" Lin Ke clapped his hands in feigned surprise, "Suddenly you become so concerned about the 'truth'?"

Lin Peng's face changed slightly and he continued: "For the sake of our happy cooperation in the past, I will provide you with some conditions. We can guarantee that we will spare no effort in investing in your project in the future, and..."

"Stop!" Lin Ke interrupted him, "You want to silence me with money? Lin Peng, you underestimate me."

The atmosphere suddenly became tense. Lin Peng clasped his hands: "Listen to me! We just need time to calm down all this. It will not benefit anyone to be exposed now."

"No benefit?" Lin Ke stood up with a firm and powerful tone, "Who is it not beneficial to? To the public or to the people behind the scenes who are manipulating everything?"

Lin Peng also stood up, and the two faced each other like two insurmountable mountains. "I told you! There are bigger interest groups involved than us!"

"So?" Lin Ke almost shouted the word, "So should we bow to the evil forces? Should we give up disclosing the truth?"

"I..." Lin Peng hesitated.

Lin Ke took a deep breath, his eyes as sharp as knives. "If the problem cannot be eradicated from the root, then if we let go of the company behind Little Meimei today, countless Little Meimeis will be created tomorrow! I cannot allow that to happen!"

Other customers in the store began to notice the heated argument between the two men.

In the end, Lin Ke waved his hand and said in a calm but decisive voice: "It is impossible to cooperate. My goal is very clear - to eliminate all corrupt elements in the entire industry."

Lin Peng sat back down with a pale face, obviously realizing that he could not shake Lin Ke.

The hustle and bustle of the city outside is in sharp contrast to the bustle inside the store. Every time you pass by, you can feel the heavy and oppressive air on the eve of a new storm that comes into view among the hurriedly walking crowds of all kinds.

Lin Ke spoke slowly: "Remember: Anyone who tries to cover up the truth, mislead the public, or seek illegal benefits—no matter how powerful his background is—will eventually be tried by justice."

Lin Ke walked out of the cafe step by step, the anger in his heart was like boiling lava that could not be calmed down. He took out his mobile phone and clicked on the live broadcast software, wanting to see the trend on the Internet. However, what appeared on the screen was Xiao Meimei and her family broadcasting live. The scene shocked him.

"Everyone in the audience, do you know? Today we encountered a very terrible thing." Xiao Meimei said with tears in her eyes, "That big star Lin Ke, he actually deceived us!"

(End of this chapter)