Chapter 139: The Studio

Su Chen listened, his gaze fixed on the screen without turning his head, merely nodding slightly.

"Didn't you hear the call Xu Fangyuan made to me earlier?" Su Chen asked.

Hearing this, Han Jiangxue bit her lip and remained silent, effectively acknowledging it. A blush still lingered on her cheeks, making her look incredibly charming. However, Su Chen paid no mind to her expression; once she had conceded, he continued speaking in a self-assured tone.

"In ordinary circumstances, given Xu Fangyuan's personality, it would be impossible for her to call me, let alone apologize in such a polite manner."

"The fact that she called me now means she was clearly coerced by Fanxing Entertainment. It’s obvious—they are panicking."

"If I don’t strike while they are in disarray, once they regain their composure and prepare their defenses, filing a lawsuit for defamation and slander won't be nearly as effective."

Su Chen spoke calmly, his tone so detached that it didn't sound like he was preparing to take on a massive entertainment conglomerate single-handedly. His demeanor was as casual as if he were discussing daily chores.

As Han Jiangxue listened, the flush on her face finally began to fade. She paused, then said, "You want to sue Fanxing Entertainment for defamation and slander? The legal standards for those are quite broad, and the outcomes can be trivialized easily."

"Given Fanxing Entertainment’s scale and the capital backing them, if you go to court, the result will likely be swept under the rug and settled with a slap on the wrist."

Su Chen nodded in agreement, acknowledging her point. Yet, he clearly had his own strategy. "If I had filed that lawsuit a day or two ago, you would be right. But after last night, the nature of the entire situation has changed, and public discussion has reached a fever pitch."

"The moment I file a report with the court, the netizens following this matter will naturally add fuel to the fire, keeping all eyes locked on Fanxing Entertainment."

"Once that situation is established, it will be impossible for anyone backing them to make this disappear quietly." A faint smile tugged at the corner of Su Chen's mouth. "Of course, it’s impossible to completely crush Fanxing Entertainment with this alone. But even if they don't go under, I won't let them escape unscathed. They are going to lose a layer of skin at the very least!"

Han Jiangxue mulled over Su Chen’s line of thinking. While Su Chen was sharp, he lacked systematic training in business. Han Jiangxue, however, was different; having grown up in an environment steeped in business and having studied it at university, she possessed an acute, rare sense for commercial affairs.

After a moment, she realized that Su Chen’s plan had tremendous potential—in fact, she felt his approach was perhaps too conservative. Achieving his intended effect wasn't difficult, and with a few strategic adjustments, they could make Fanxing Entertainment suffer even more.

"Your idea is highly feasible, and if we proceed this way, Fanxing will definitely be hurt," she said. "But I have some updated thoughts. Would you like to hear them? It would be a much harsher, more ruthless approach."

Su Chen was momentarily stunned by her words, then smiled. "Why not?"

"My conflict with Fanxing Entertainment may have started with Xu Fangyuan, but her actions were undoubtedly sanctioned by the company. This is no longer just between me and her; it is a conflict between me and the entire firm."

"Furthermore, in their eyes, I’m just a newcomer. For a newcomer to make them suffer is a massive blow to their ego. Even if they bow now, they will surely seek revenge later. How could a company of that size let this slide?"

"To put it bluntly, if they don't make an example of me to keep their other artists in line, how will they maintain control? Therefore, I will never reconcile with them. The more miserable they become from this, the better it is for me. One strike to avoid a hundred future blows!"

Han Jiangxue nodded in earnest. What Su Chen said made perfect sense, and since his personal interests were at stake, she took the matter seriously.

"In that case," Han Jiangxue proposed, "register a personal studio and file the lawsuit under its name. Suing as an individual puts you at a disadvantage, as the legal process often leans in favor of corporations. But company versus company is a different matter entirely. Given your current situation, you can reframe their personal attacks, rumors, and slander as corporate crimes."

"The sentencing standards for commercial crimes are far more severe than those for defamation!"

As she spoke, she took the mouse from Su Chen and began searching for the sentencing guidelines for commercial crimes. These involve illegal activities in business, such as corruption, embezzlement, misappropriation of funds, or tax evasion. If the slander caused significant economic loss to his studio, it would certainly fall under that umbrella.

The sentencing, she noted, depended on factors like the severity of the methods, the amount of financial loss, whether the perpetrator confessed or offered restitution, and prior criminal records. The penalties ranged from a few years in prison to much harsher sentences.

After Su Chen finished reviewing the information on the screen, Han Jiangxue said, "I’ll handle the paperwork for the studio; your business license should be ready in two or three days. As for the lawsuit, my mother has a professional legal team. We’ll just use them."