Rise and Slay: From Scandal Queen to Academic Genius
Chapter 73: The Road to a Fresh Start Is Broad

Chapter 73: Chapter 73: The Road to a Fresh Start Is Broad

Brother Sleep brought several lawyers to the court; he also hired a fairly well-known lawyer, Liao Ping from Faqi Law Firm, who has high recognition.

However, the news that Ji Xizhi won the defamation case against Hangxing Entertainment this morning has already spread across the internet.

Brother Sleep naturally knows about it as well.

Still, he managed to gather a significant amount of money from his fans, hiring a top-notch lawyer specializing in this kind of case.

The goal was to make sure Ji Xizhi loses. Even if losing wasn’t possible, they aimed to lower the compensation amount to the minimum.

Before coming, Liao Ping was confident. Dealing with a minor celebrity who can’t afford a lawyer, what’s this? A guaranteed win!

But upon arrival, seeing the weary expression on the senior lawyer of Hangxing Entertainment in the press nest at the entrance, Liao Ping was startled.

What’s going on? Even if the legal team at Hangxing Entertainment loses, they wouldn’t look this discouraged!

Until he entered the courtroom.

Hearing Ji Xizhi repeatedly cite legal regulations without needing to look at documents, it was as if all the laws were etched in her mind.

Liao Ping’s face could only reflect the word "weary."

Brother Sleep had anticipated the case might lose, as the lawyer had already warned him in advance.

But he didn’t expect that the hired lawyer would lose so quickly, to the point that he couldn’t even argue with Ji Xizhi over the legal articles.

In the end, when the judge announced the verdict, he was required not only to apologize publicly across the internet but also to pay Ji Xizhi a large amount of compensation for emotional distress.

Ji Xizhi was unsurprised by this outcome.

After the trial concluded, she intended to head back to the hotel.

Before she could leave, someone behind called out to her.

The person behind Brother Sleep’s ID was a sophomore student; he was only nineteen years old. He ran over to call out to Ji Xizhi:

"Ji Xizhi, I apologize to you. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have defamed you online."

Ji Xizhi glanced back at him without responding.

Brother Sleep’s eyes shifted slightly as he lowered his gaze, "I’m sorry, Ji Xizhi. I’m just a college student, I don’t have money to compensate you. I’d be willing to handwrite an apology letter online; can you let me off?"

Brother Sleep was quite familiar with this procedure. Most celebrities sue their defamers in this way.

First, they sue the defamers, then with the success of the lawsuit, the handwritten apology letter gets hot search for clarification. This process clears their reputation adequately.

Celebrities, after all, aren’t short on money.

Brother Sleep stood awkwardly in front of Ji Xizhi, his voice gradually lowering, "Please."

Ji Xizhi still did not reply.

Brother Sleep felt somewhat annoyed. He had begged like this, and Ji Xizhi still wouldn’t let him go!

Just as he was about to lose his temper, he noticed the group of reporters gathering around at the court entrance.

Brother Sleep’s mind quickly spun, forcing out a tear from his eyes, "Ji Xizhi, do you really want to force me to death? I only criticized you online, is it necessary to go to such extremes? Are celebrities not supposed to be doubted by the public? You’ve earned so much money, so why make money by suing ordinary people?"

The scattered reporters at the court entrance initially planned to just interview Ji Xizhi, take a few photos, and create some advertisements.

After all, compared to the massive defamation case between Ji Xizhi and Hangxing Entertainment in the morning, the afternoon’s lawsuit against online defamation seemed much calmer.

The trial result didn’t need guessing; winning against Hangxing Entertainment meant inevitably winning against the defamers.

The reporters had just surrounded them but hadn’t had the chance to interview Ji Xizhi when they heard the desperate plea from a young man behind them.

The young man’s voice was already choked, tears glistening at the corner of his eyes, especially with what he said, like celebrities making money by suing ordinary defamers, going to extremes!

A big scoop?!

Reporters rushed forward.

The live-streaming camera probed forward but hadn’t yet managed to ask questions, when Ji Xizhi, appearing cold, replied:

"Since you are a college student, Ideological and Moral Cultivation class should be mandatory, no need for my reminder. Isn’t the basic requirement of the socialist legal system that illegality must be prosecuted as a safeguard?"

"Any person’s illegal behavior shall bear the due legal responsibilities, unrelated to whether you are a college student or if I am a celebrity. I suggest you retake the Ideological and Moral Cultivation class and at the same time, retry learning language skills!"

Ji Xizhi’s words were sharp, swiftly breaking the weak façade Brother Sleep crafted before the reporters’ cameras.

These two sentences directly exhilarated a group of fans watching the live broadcast.

[Well spoken!!! I now thoroughly dislike moral hijacking using student status. Yes, yes, you are a student; I’ll give you two hundred just for good measure!]

[An extra point for college students being defamed, please do not represent all college students; we’re too pitiful!]

[I laughed. I seem to recall this incident, where You Yingmeng was also morally hijacked like this previously. In the end, You Yingmeng softened and didn’t charge him, and then he turned around and defamed other celebrities!]

[You Yingmeng is really decent, but Ji Xizhi is somewhat ruthless; ordinary people don’t have much money!]

[@Brother Sleep has edited Zhi Zhi’s photos into mourning, nude, and bed shots, spreading rumors and dissing variously. I’d just ask, everyone present, who would kindly forgive such actions? Ordinary people may lack money, but they wouldn’t deliberately defame others like this, and @Brother Sleep’s account grew rich by defaming Ji Xizhi. Didn’t he also illegally fundraise at one point!]

Occasionally, a person or two in the live room attempted to stir trouble, quickly countered by Ji Xizhi’s fans.

Selling pitiful tales? Who doesn’t? Our Zhi Zhi is truly the one suffering!

The few troublemaking defamers in the live room were swiftly suppressed.

After winning two lawsuits, Ji Xizhi didn’t linger long at the court entrance and soon left.

The Dark Shark King Director Alliance gathering was at a private, cozy restaurant, a lively feast laid on the table yet untouched, and Ji Xizhi’s phone began ringing continuously.

Once Ji Xizhi ended her contract with Hangxing Entertainment, her current buzz immediately made her the darling of the entertainment industry, spurring competition among agencies.

"Hello, is this Ji Xizhi? I’m Xiao Ma, an agent from Da Yu Entertainment. I wanted to ask about your upcoming work schedule? Is there time to chat?"

"Ji Xizhi, hello. I’m Jin Li from Qiansong Entertainment. I’d like to inquire if you have any interests in signing with a company after ending your deal with Hangxing Entertainment? Can we arrange a time?"

"Ji Xizhi..."

Four or five calls came in, all rejected by Ji Xizhi, who then skillfully switched on the feature of rejecting non-contact list calls.

Fang Zhuyue, Zhu Xiu’an, and Qin Yutian watched helplessly as the large agencies they struggled to recommend themselves to were all casually turned down by Ji Xizhi’s few words.

The three were envy-stricken, almost to tears.

Fang Zhuyue: "Zhi Zhi, are you really not going to consider this? These agencies are good. As long as you carefully review the contract this time, there should be no problem!"

Qin Yutian: "Yes, it’s tough for artists to quit the industry!"

Zhu Xiu’an patted his chest: "Exactly, what would you do? Don’t narrow your path, in the industry, brother’s got you covered!"

Ji Xizhi: "?"

She glanced down at the date and said:

"The path to success is quite wide."

The preliminary postgraduate entrance exam results should be out around this time as well.