What's wrong with this lawyer?!

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He wouldn't hesitate for a second, he'd definitely go for the not-guilty plea.

Before leaving, he even heard that lawyer stirring up talk of an appeal, but Old Tang didn't know what to say, and his identity made it impossible for him to offer advice in this case.

He would just have to wait for a chance to have a proper debate with the lawyers from the Capital in the future.

Old Tang didn't plan to attend Jin Xintian's second trial; it wasn't even certain if the court would convene for it, and it was highly likely that it wouldn't, given the substantial factual reasons and the lack of any new evidence for the appeal.

If the court really had to convene, he'd just see which intern at the firm still needed a case and have their mentor bring them along for the experience.

Interns are required to handle ten cases during their internship.

Next up are Hanbei Province and Hanzhou Province, where the process will be the same.

Meanwhile, in Jingzhou, they finally finished reviewing over a thousand cases. With so many cases, it was impossible for all of them to go to trial.

If they did, this year's evaluation would certainly be interesting.

The only option was to contact those people from all corners of the country and ask if they'd be willing to settle.

After all, Tang Fangjing's demands were just two: compensation and a public apology.

Inside Handong University of Political Science and Law, Gu Huarong had just finished her class when her phone rang.

"Hello, is this Gu Huarong? This is Jingzhou City Guangming District Court's Pre-litigation Mediation Center..."

Hearing the voice on the phone, Gu Huarong's face revealed a bitter smile, even though she knew she would undoubtedly be notified after Tang Fangjing sued that whole bunch of people online.

But now, actually receiving a call from the court, she still couldn't quite believe it was real.

She had never experienced anything like this before—just because of some words on the internet, now facing actual litigation, and against everyone at that!

When internet users quarreled over online defamation, there was always someone who said, "If you think this is illegal, why don't you sue everyone then?"

Of course, that was impossible, even laughable. So, people just exchanged verbal blows online, having to endure the humiliation from others.

But now, someone had actually stepped forward and done it!

Despite some still believing that those thousand-plus weren't everyone, even so, it was still terrifying.

She could accept paying money, but to make a public apology was a bit too much. Because by apologizing, it would mean exposing her alternate account...

"Do I really have to make a public apology? Can't I just use my online handle?"

"That won't work, the other party's demands are crystal clear, you must apologize using your real names."

An apology from an alternate account is meaningless, it has no impact on the individual. The defendants aren't known by their online handles, but the person behind those handles.

"If you don't apologize, the case will definitely go to court, so think it through and try to settle," the voice on the phone advised.

After hanging up the phone, Gu Huarong let out a sigh. Online bluster can truly cost you, she thought.

The same thing was happening elsewhere. Among those sued were students, teachers, construction workers, small business owners, and even the wealthy.

All were sued for the same reason, for insulting or slandering Tang Fangjing online, although not to the extent of committing a crime.

Those who followed internet disputes were aware of the case; those who did not were suddenly stunned by a call from the court.

"I just said a few things about him online, that's not allowed either? What about all those other people who insult others online!" a person in their forties or fifties shouted into the phone.

"This time, he's suing everyone who insulted him!"

Those words left him dumbfounded, unable to comprehend the concept of suing everyone who insults others online.

Some accepted the settlement, naturally, there were also those who did not.

In the meantime, in a community in Lincheng City of Handong Province,

36-year-old Tang Zhongyu answered the phone, his eyes blank as he listened to the voice on the other end.

"What's Douyin? I don't even know, I've never been involved in that stuff."

The woman on the phone said, "Mr. Tang Zhongyu, right? No mistake, the name and cellphone number match. You are the one known as... 'Love Licking Black Silk Stockings,' right?"

The blunt online handle made even the court staff struggle to keep a straight face.

Flushed with embarrassment, Tang Zhongyu stammered, "I don't know, I really don't."

After a few sentences, he hung up the phone. With a dark expression, Tang Zhongyu thought, Who is this pervert registering such an online handle with my cell number and ID?

He downloaded Douyin on his phone, logged in, and saw at a glance, the images were clearly from his own home.

But at home, it's just his wife and kid. His wife would never and couldn't possibly choose such a name—could it be his son?

That day, a brutal scene unfolded at Tang Zhongyu's home: a parental mixed doubles beatdown paired with sautéed bamboo shoots and meat, resulting in a child gaining a complete childhood.

As time went by, Old Tang eventually returned to Jingzhou from Hanbei Province.

He handled all four criminal complaints personally, and the civil lawsuits in Jingzhou had already begun.

It didn't matter much; many were just a matter of going through the motions in court, and many defendants didn't even show up.

Even so, Old Zhou from the civil division looked at him with a somewhat odd expression.

Old Zhou had not only lost a bunch of hair but also had lost weight and had dark circles under his eyes. He looked as though he could collapse in court at any moment.

"Judge Zhou, you need to take better care of yourself, you're looking too frail, you should really work out more!" Old Tang said after a close observation, then walked away briskly.

Old Zhou's eyes nearly shot fire. Exactly who is on their deathbed here? I feel like I'm about to collapse, and you, on death's door for almost three years, are still jumping around everywhere.

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