Chapter 1005: Beautiful Girl (50)

Those whose ugly sides had been captured on video and broadcast to the entire world all had flushed faces. They wanted to say something, but no words would come.

Faced with undeniable evidence, they had no room to argue. The people in the videos were them. The ones who had uttered those words were also them.

They had thought that as long as they denied everything, all would be well. With so many defendants involved, could that girl really sue every one of them?

But the moment those videos were played before the entire world, their faces turned ashen.

Especially those with respectable status and positions, those who had always maintained images of humility, courtesy, and good character in the eyes of colleagues, family members, and acquaintances. At that moment, every carefully constructed persona they had built collapsed completely.

They simply couldn't imagine how the people around them would view them after today. Just picturing those scenes made their scalps tingle and their hearts turn cold.

Those usually praised as outstanding students also lowered their heads in embarrassment, their fists clenched and lips pressed tightly together. Their eyes held shame and anger, but also regret.

Yet what they regretted wasn't what they had done.

What they regretted was that they had been caught on camera saying those things. Worse still, everyone had seen the hideous expressions on their faces.

Even if they weren't held criminally responsible, they were still young. Now that so many people had witnessed their words, how were they supposed to face the future?

Most of the people seated among the defendants were consumed by resentment, wondering how Tang Guo had managed to obtain such evidence and leave them with no room to defend themselves.

Tang Guo didn't care what they regretted.

Nor did she care whether they truly recognized their mistakes.

Today, she had only one goal—

To make them pay the price they deserved.

The influence of this case was enormous.

Before that very day had even ended, countless posts from people who had once suffered slander and verbal abuse surfaced online. Survivors shared their experiences one after another.

They all deeply admired the young girl. She had actually dared to face the difficulties head-on and bring those hateful people to court.

Family members of victims also stepped forward, recounting the suffering their loved ones had endured while alive. Some had developed severe psychological illnesses and mental disorders, and after treatment failed, they had ultimately chosen to end their own lives.

All over the world, there were countless people who had suffered from verbal attacks.

And now, someone had finally stepped forward to expose everything and drag those murderers into court.

People could only clap with all their might while sitting in front of computers or holding their phones, cheering her on while sharing their own experiences.

Their purpose was simple.

They hoped those people would receive the harshest punishment possible.

As long as they were punished, people who spread rumors and vicious words so casually would surely become fewer and fewer in the future.

Because of the immense attention the case had garnered worldwide, along with petitions jointly signed by countless victims, the trial progressed rapidly.

Those sued by Tang Guo received their sentences.

The more serious offenders were imprisoned, with the harshest sentence reaching three years and the lightest being six months.

Those below the age threshold for criminal responsibility were fined. People who had refused to take responsibility for their words would ultimately have to pay Tang Guo enormous sums in compensation.

Their parents had failed to educate them properly.

This was the price of that failure.

Of course, many people refused to accept the verdict and appealed.

They had thought they still had a chance to turn things around.

Unexpectedly, the Supreme Court rejected every appeal.

No matter how many times they appealed, the answer remained the same.

Rejected.

The impartiality of the law caused people around the world to erupt with excitement, especially the victims and their families.

Even though they understood that absolute fairness did not exist in this world—perhaps it had never existed at all—

Through the efforts of that girl, and through everyone's united efforts, those people had finally been punished.

And that was all they had wished for.