Chapter 102: Chapter 101: No Way Back
In response to the statement from Elliana Lyle’s studio, most influencers chose to publicly apologize, with some even releasing videos, crying miserably, while others remained silent.
Of course, there were also those who refused to admit defeat, like a stubborn duck.
Take Orion, for example, who spread the most outrageous rumors. Originally an influencer with only ten to twenty thousand followers selling counterfeit goods, Orion skyrocketed to fame on short video and live streaming platforms by fabricating rumors about Elliana Lyle.
He was even signed by a well-known domestic live streaming platform.
In just a few days, this male influencer named Liu Tie, known as Orion, saw his account’s followers surpass five million, and his earnings from a single broadcast also broke five thousand, unprecedented. This naturally gave Orion a lot of confidence.
So much so that he believed he was invincible and dared to challenge legal authority.
@Orion: My family, I was threatened today. Elliana Lyle wants to send me a lawyer’s letter, saying she’s going to sue me. Support me, family. If she dares to sue, I, Orion, dare to fight back. Show your support in the comments and shares, and you’ll have a chance to win a gold necklace, with only ten available. Also, our newest product in the live stream—just share and comment, and send a screenshot to Orion, and you’ll get a fifty percent discount.
Spring’s Flower: "Support Orion. Although that girl committed suicide because of loan sharks, Elliana Lyle’s slap must have mattered—the last straw that broke the camel’s back! If you’re upright, you won’t fear a crooked shadow. We’re not afraid of her."
Cat Ginger: "xswl, how ridiculous, having the nerve to spread rumors. Just shut this thing down already, it’s disgusting."
Asylum for the Insane: "Sorry, lost control these past few days, let it run loose."
...
Just this morning, Elliana Lyle read no fewer than a hundred comments, noting how arrogant this Orion’s attitude was to the extreme, needing special treatment to match his arrogance.
At eight in the morning, four people gathered in the study to formally discuss the issue of online loans.
"Boss, let me remind you," Lee Four raised his index finger earnestly, "there are many types of these unregulated online loan companies, and with some, if you investigate too deeply, there might be trouble."
"Some things are better left to the police," Tommy suggested.
Lee Four quickly waved his hand, "No, no, no, that’s not what I meant. These online loan companies operate without registration. Even if the police investigate, they’ll end up only arresting the collection agency, digging deeper is time-consuming and might alert them."
"Whether it’s the loan companies or the collection agencies, their actions are illegal. Once the victim can’t pay within a certain time, the loan company sells the debt cheaply to a debt collection company, making it hard to find the loan company."
"Go on," Elliana Lyle indicated.
Lee Four continued, "With even darker loans than loan sharks, these online companies already make plenty off the victims and sell to collectors for more profit."
"They have many such debts. In-depth investigations often only reveal the collectors, as transactions go through intermediaries now."
Indeed, online loan companies have become smarter and harder to trace over the years.
Luna looked intriguingly at Lee Four, "You seem to know a lot about this."
"Heh, I’m not much, got a friend in the business once," Lee Four chuckled.
At this, everyone fell silent, each giving him an odd look.
Lee Four chuckled awkwardly, explaining, "I personally helped send him to jail, so I know a bit more."
"Impressive," Luna gave Lee Four a thumbs up, then said, "Let’s find the origin of the video first, nothing’s impossible for a willing heart."
After some discussion, Elliana Lyle decided to return to school with Luna in the afternoon, which conveniently included Andrew Hue. Tommy would handle any required tracking, and Lee Four and Sheng Ming would counter the influencers.
――― South City University.
At the gates, a couple was holding a long red banner with eight big words clearly inscribed: Elliana Lyle, return my daughter’s life.
The couple neared fifty, with the man sporting a full face of stubble and the woman decorated by the signs of age.
Evelyn Dunn’s family lived in a remote small town, not wealthy but getting by.
Since getting into a city high school, Evelyn was attracted to city life, eventually posing as a rich girl after entering university, with not a single non-branded item on her.
Most at school knew Evelyn often generously treated others, frequently funding student council parties.
With her parents’ appearance, their dress and compensation demands made everyone realize Evelyn’s rich girl image was merely pretense.
With everyone knowing about Evelyn’s nude loans, there was no pity for her parents, considered only attempting a monetary swindle.
At the school gate, Evelyn’s exhausted father told his wife impatiently, "Go buy some food, I’m starving, I’ll stay here."
Though driven away multiple times since yesterday, they refused to leave without money.
"Sigh!" Implying frustration, Evelyn’s mother replied, "Old man, let’s just stop, we’ll get driven out again, police said Evelyn committed suicide, we should focus on repaying the debt."
"Woman, you’re clueless."
In a low, disappointed voice, Evelyn’s father scolded, "When people come, demand millions, that will settle the debt? Maybe we could buy a city house? You’re losing patience? Isn’t it your spoilt child owing the money, if I don’t push it, I’ll never repay this in my life."
They could handle the tens of thousands owed to relatives, but not their son’s mishap, crashing a motorcycle and paralyzing someone, who privately demanded 4 million to avoid court.
So Evelyn’s father disregarded police evidence, insisting on money from Elliana Lyle.
Initially not considering seeking money from Elliana, it was a suggestion from a wise man.
...
At noon, the banner was forcibly removed, and the couple left satisfied.
Norman Bennett offered them a large sum, on the condition that their family renounce their nationality.
The couple saw no downsides, accepting eagerly for money, unaware that giving up nationality made return impossible.