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墨書 Inktalez
Less than an hour after the live interview with father Zhou ended, several friends from the Public Account who had helped me share the article contacted me. They informed me that the police had already intervened in the investigation, and their superiors requested that my article be retracted.
In our Community Group, someone shared a recording of the live stream. After venting their anger towards Zhao Zeyang and others, the discussion continued late into the night about how to help Zhou Mengqi's family at the community level. Some suggested helping with grocery shopping and cooking meals. Others mentioned knowing lawyer friends who could assist with legal aid applications. There were even initiatives to raise funds for Zhou Mengqi's family...
All of this left me feeling somewhat dazed, as if the world that had previously directed harsh words at the Zhou family had never existed.
The next day, I dragged myself to work with dark circles under my eyes, completely lacking motivation. I couldn't resist checking Weibo again. The trending topics regarding Zhou Mengqi had shifted from "Justice for Zhou Mengqi" to a frenzy of various organizations trying to make their presence felt.
"Sunshine Charity initiates a million-dollar fundraising campaign for the Zhou family, calling on all sectors of society to lend a helping hand!"
"Cuihu Sanatorium announces: willing to provide one year of free rehabilitation services for Zhou Mengqi."
"Mind Oasis Clinic: Our clinic has dedicated years to psychological recovery and is prepared to offer free treatment for Zhou Mengqi."
These organizations certainly had a keen sense for opportunity.
I casually clicked on one post and found that someone had shared the video of mother Zhou crying out while driving away neighbors. This time, public sentiment was overwhelmingly sympathetic, and sure enough, some netizens mentioned the instigator of this incident—me.
Under my account "Heartfelt Citizen Xin Fangfang," the comments were filled with vitriol:
"You intended to incite online harassment against Zhou Mengqi's family from the start, didn't you? How malicious!"
"Everyone, I've noticed that those accounts 'Bystander Clear' and 'Dark Night Light' that later surfaced with revelations have been deactivated! Cowards hiding behind their keyboards!"
"Mr. Fang, are you really feeling heartfelt now? When will your account be deactivated?"
As I continued scrolling with a bitter smile, my phone buzzed with a message from my boss: "Xiao Fang, come to my office."
As soon as I entered my boss's office, before I could say anything, he slammed his phone down in front of me.
"Fang Yu, you are this 'Heartfelt Citizen Xin Fangfang,' aren't you? Did you ask these platforms to post on your behalf? And are you using company channels to drive traffic?"
I looked down at his phone screen, which displayed a group chat with his industry peers. The screenshots from the platform owners who had previously helped me share articles were there, along with discussions about boosting my visibility. My throat tightened as I opened my mouth but ultimately said nothing.
The boss looked at me coldly, saying, "The company provides you with a platform and resources to facilitate your work, not to solve personal issues or create trouble! The company does not need irresponsible employees like you! You are fired!"
Under the indifferent gazes of my colleagues, I quickly packed my things and walked out of the company. The sunlight was particularly blinding that day, making everything feel surreal.
After returning home, I hardly stepped outside again. I relied solely on takeout for meals and had everything delivered. I drifted through nearly a month in this haze until the police's official Weibo account finally updated!
[Latest Investigation Progress Announcement on 'Port City University Drug Case']
"After investigation, suspects Zhao Zeyang, Chen Zi'ang, Wang Yaoxuan, Li Tianxiang, Qian Lili, and others were indeed involved in gathering to use illegal drugs, trafficking illegal drugs, drug-facilitated rape of multiple victims, and extortion..."
The last line of the police announcement on the computer screen was particularly striking: "We will continue to investigate all individuals involved in this case and will not tolerate any illegal activities."
The comments below the police announcement were sharp and profound, filled with memorable phrases. In the role of an observer, everyone seemed wise.
I numbly scrolled through these brilliantly written comments that had received tens of thousands of likes, feeling as if each confirmed crime listed in the announcement—gathering for drug use, trafficking illegal substances, multiple counts of rape—was a sword piercing my eyes.
In an instant, I vaguely heard a suppressed sob coming from upstairs...
(11)
Next came another long wait; I truly hoped this matter would conclude soon.
After another month, the case finally entered the trial phase. Perhaps due to the high social attention surrounding this case, the court chose to conduct a live broadcast for the public trial.
Multiple victims and their families attended the hearing; Zhou Mengqi was represented by her father. Faced with shocking evidence presented by the police, those seated in the defendant's box, including Zhao Zeyang, looked terrified; their once arrogant demeanor was completely gone.
Although I could roughly predict the trial's outcome, I still felt nervous, my palms sweating as I stared intently at the screen.
The judge's solemn voice echoed through my room: "After this court's examination, it has been established that defendants Zhao Zeyang, Chen Zi'ang, Wang Yaoxuan, Li Tianxiang, and Qian Lili have committed illegal possession and trafficking of controlled substances and rape... Their actions have caused serious physical and mental harm to multiple victims and have brought significant social harm. According to Articles 236 and 347 of the 'People's Republic of China Criminal Law'..."
"Zhao Zeyang, sentenced to twenty-five years in prison..."
"Chen Zi'ang, Wang Yaoxuan, Li Tianxiang sentenced to eighteen years in prison..."
"Qian Lili, sentenced to seven years in prison..."
...
I leaned heavily against the back of my chair, feeling utterly drained. Turning my head to look out the window, I saw the sky painted a brilliant orange-red by the setting sun.
I let out a long sigh; this case had finally come to a conclusion, and my life could finally return to normal.
After taking a few minutes to collect myself, I opened my Weibo account under the name "Heartfelt Citizen Xin Fangfang." Since I had disabled the comment feature on my original post, the online community hadn’t spared me. There were already hundreds of thousands of unread private messages, most filled with mockery and insults.
I ignored these messages and decisively clicked on "Deactivate Account."
That evening, I knocked on the door of the Zhou family upstairs. Inside, father Zhou and mother Zhou were anxiously waiting for me. As soon as I entered, they rushed over to greet me.
mother Zhou tightly grasped my hand, tears falling onto my fingers. "Xiao Fang, thank you... thank you for everything you've done for us..."
father Zhou wiped his tears and pulled me to sit on the sofa. "Mr. Fang, your plan was too risky. We didn’t dare believe it would succeed at first."
I nodded and gently patted their hands, feeling relieved. Yes, all of this was a trap we had set together. Aside from the ID "Heartfelt Citizen Xin Fangfang," the accounts that had come forward to expose the truth—Bystander Clear and Dark Night Light—were also my alternate accounts. The photos in the exposé were those that scoundrels had previously used to threaten Meng Qi.
The reason for this approach was to exploit the darkest side of human nature to illuminate the darkness in this world.
Previously, after complaints to the property management yielded no results, I went directly to communicate with them. It was then that I learned about Meng Qi's plight from father Zhou and mother Zhou. Seeing this once-bright and outstanding girl now confined at home, living in a state between life and death; her ordinary parents desperately seeking a way out in despair—no one had been willing to take the risk to stand up for them.
At that moment, a bold idea took root in my mind. Since there was no path forward through direct means, we would break through from the opposite side, using humanity's malice to combat greater evils.
In this "gamble," we wagered on human wickedness. When we acted as good people, those bad individuals bullied us. When we became bad ourselves, those good people would come to judge us.
I understood these online judges because I was also hidden behind a keyboard. Like everyone else, I reveled in sharp and clever comments, enjoyed speculating and amplifying facts, always wielding words like swords with a self-righteous sense of justice.
Now, these countless online judges became our weapons for revealing the truth. If this was the only way to achieve justice, then let me be that villain. To weave a net of malice to capture greater evils.
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