A wave of internet trolls and keyboard warriors flooded the comment section, twisting facts and blackening reputations.
Their narrative was that Jiang Ling's adoptive parents, unable to have children of their own, had devised a scheme to steal the second daughter of Jiang Jianguo and Zhang Liansheng, who was as beautiful as a jade, causing a twenty-year separation of flesh and blood before finally finding Jiang Ling.
"What adoptive parents? They were human traffickers, sellers."
"The premise of nurture being greater than nature requires a clean origin. If the child was obtained through deceit and trickery, no amount of nurturing can justify it."
"The Jiang family elders are so pitiful. Such a beautiful daughter was stolen. After searching for so many years, they finally found her, only for her to recognize her enemies and not her biological parents. Oh, what a karmic debt!"
"Indeed. If I were in this situation, I would have cried myself to death."
"Jiang Ling is also confused. Instead of filial piety towards her biological parents, she pines for a human trafficker who has been dead for many years. Fortunately, she's not my daughter, or I'd be furious!"
This conspiracy theory of stealing a child to raise them once again shifted public opinion.
This greatly angered Jiang Ling's fans and supporters.
"Didn't you say evidence is needed, like catching a thief with the stolen goods or adulterers in the act? Where is the evidence that Jiang Ling's adoptive parents stole the child?"
"Are you spewing baseless slander? Don't you know 'the deceased should be respected'?"
"Slandering the dead without any evidence, aren't you afraid Jiang Ling's adoptive parents will visit you at night?"
"Drinking cold water by the heavens, every drop piercing the heart. Those who dare to slander the dead should be wary of encountering ghosts on a dark road."
"Keyboard warriors are so immoral. They madly attacked the living like rabid dogs, and now they won't even let the dead rest. They are truly shameless!"
"..."
The slander from the keyboard warriors and internet trolls was once again repelled by Jiang Ling's fans.
Fans in the entertainment industry are inherently prone to blind devotion and fervent worship of their idols. Experiencing Jiang Ling's commitment to endorsing luxury brands further solidified their belief in her character.
Thus, despite the magnitude of this incident, the vast majority of Jiang Ling's loyal fans remained steadfastly by her side.
Whenever they saw anyone accusing Jiang Ling of filial impiety, disrespecting family ties, or disregarding her younger brother's well-being, they would immediately retaliate without a word.
"You dare bully our goddess? We'll tear you to shreds!"
The various artists in the industry were incredibly envious of Jiang Ling's fans, who were not only numerous but also so dedicated.
If they had even a tenth of Jiang Ling's loyal fans, they wouldn't fear negative news.
Fan loyalty was also one of the advantages for female celebrities.
In the entertainment industry, female celebrities' ability to attract fans was far inferior to male celebrities. However, once fans were gained, they rarely drifted away.
Conversely, male celebrities, while quick to gain fame and attract fans, had less steadfast fans. They might switch their "husband" for every drama they watched. They rose quickly and fell just as fast.
Jiang Ling's supporters, and the keyboard warriors and internet trolls who attacked her, were unable to provide any evidence. Each side argued their case, with neither backing down. For ten consecutive days, the stalemate continued.
Although both sides appeared evenly matched, Jiang Ling, having navigated this circle for two lifetimes, was an old hand and could clearly see that her side had gained the upper hand.
Compared to the fierce, widespread verbal sparring that erupted in a short period, Jiang Ling preferred a war of attrition.
Firstly, controversy could maintain her popularity, allowing her fame to reach new heights.